Resident Evil Reboot: Barbarian Director Takes Helm

Zach Cregger, acclaimed director of the horror hit Barbarian and a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is set to helm a Resident Evil reboot. The Hollywood Reporter reports a fierce bidding war is underway for distribution rights, with Netflix and Warner Bros. among the four studios vying for the project. Cregger will write and direct this new take on the iconic Capcom survival horror franchise.

Cregger's 2022 film, Barbarian, captivated audiences with its chilling tale of a woman's terrifying discovery in a seemingly ordinary rental house. He's already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly has received overwhelmingly positive audience test screenings. [Read our Barbarian review here.]

This will be the second attempt at rebooting the Resident Evil film franchise. Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series, starring Milla Jovovich, grossed $1.2 billion worldwide despite deviating from the games' storylines. The 2021 film, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of replicating the series' acclaimed quality.

Constantin Film will once again produce this new reboot, partnering with PlayStation Productions. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions adapts Sony's game properties for film and television, with past successes including Uncharted (starring Tom Holland), Grand Turismo, the The Last of Us TV 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 show and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.