Zach Cregger, director of the acclaimed horror film Barbarian and a member of The Whitest Kids You Know, is helming a Resident Evil reboot. The Hollywood Reporter reports a fierce bidding war is underway for distribution rights, with Cregger writing and directing. Netflix and Warner Bros. are among the four studios vying for the project.
Cregger's 2022 horror hit, Barbarian, centered on a woman discovering a terrifying secret in a rented house. He's already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly received highly positive audience test screenings. [Link to Barbarian review]
This marks the second cinematic Resident Evil reboot. Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series, starring Milla Jovovich, grossed $1.2 billion globally, though it deviated significantly from the games. The 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of critical acclaim.
Constantin Film, alongside PlayStation Productions, will produce Cregger's reboot. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions adapts Sony's game properties for film and television, including Uncharted (starring Tom Holland), Gran Turismo, The Last of Us series, and Twisted Metal.
Future PlayStation Productions projects include adaptations of Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, Horizon Zero Dawn, and an Uncharted sequel. A God of War TV series and a Ghost of Tsushima anime are also in development.
