"Barbarian Director to Reboot Resident Evil"

Zach Cregger, acclaimed for his directorial work on the 2022 horror film Barbarian and his involvement with the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is set to helm a new Resident Evil reboot movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a fierce bidding war has emerged among studios vying to distribute Cregger's unique vision of the iconic Capcom survival horror franchise. Cregger will not only direct but also write the script for this eagerly anticipated project. Currently, four studios are in the running for distribution rights, with Netflix and Warner Bros. among the contenders.

Cregger's previous work, Barbarian, captivated audiences with its chilling narrative about a woman uncovering a terrifying secret in a rental home. Following this success, Cregger has completed his next film, Weapons, which has reportedly scored exceptionally well in test screenings.

This upcoming Resident Evil reboot marks the second attempt to revitalize the franchise on the big screen. Previously, Paul W.S. Anderson directed a series of six Resident Evil films featuring Milla Jovovich, which, while deviating from the game's storylines, amassed a global box office total of $1.2 billion. In 2021, Johannes Roberts directed Welcome to Raccoon City, a reboot that aimed for greater fidelity to the original games but struggled to capture the essence of Capcom's acclaimed series.

Constantin Film, the production company behind both Anderson's films and Welcome to Raccoon City, will produce this new reboot in collaboration with PlayStation Productions. Established in 2019 by Sony, PlayStation Productions has been instrumental in adapting video games into films and TV series, including hits like Uncharted starring Tom Holland, Gran Turismo, the TV adaptation of The Last of Us, and Twisted Metal.

Looking ahead, PlayStation Productions has a robust slate of upcoming projects, including 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 series and a Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development, signaling an exciting future for fans of video game adaptations.

For more on Zach Cregger's work, you can read our review of Barbarian here.