Zach Cregger, renowned for directing the chilling horror film Barbarian and his association with the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is now set to helm a reboot of the iconic Resident Evil franchise. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a fierce bidding war has ensued among studios vying for the distribution rights of Cregger's fresh take on Capcom's beloved survival horror series. Netflix and Warner Bros. are among the four studios currently in the race to secure this much-anticipated project, with Cregger slated to write and direct.
Cregger's recent success with Barbarian, a 2022 horror thriller about a woman uncovering a sinister secret in a rental house, has bolstered his reputation in the horror genre. His upcoming film, Weapons, is also generating buzz, having reportedly tested exceptionally well with audiences.
This new Resident Evil reboot will mark the second cinematic revival of the franchise. Previously, Paul W.S. Anderson directed a series of six films featuring Milla Jovovich, which, despite diverging from the game's narrative, amassed a global box office total of $1.2 billion. In 2021, Johannes Roberts attempted a more faithful adaptation with Welcome to Raccoon City, but it fell short of the high standards set by Capcom's original games.
Constantin Film, alongside PlayStation Productions, will produce this latest reboot. PlayStation Productions, established by Sony in 2019, has been instrumental in bringing several video game IPs to the screen, including Uncharted starring Tom Holland, Gran Turismo, The Last of Us TV series, and Twisted Metal. Their upcoming slate also includes adaptations of Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, Horizon Zero Dawn, and a sequel to Uncharted. Additionally, a God of War TV show and a Ghost of Tsushima anime series are in development.
For more on Zach Cregger's previous work, you can read our Barbarian review here.
