Resident Evil Reboot In the Works From Barbarian Director

Zach Cregger, acclaimed director of the horror film Barbarian and a member of the comedy troupe 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 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, about a woman who discovers a terrifying secret in her rental house, solidified his horror credentials. He’s already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly has received exceptionally positive audience test screenings. [Read our Barbarian review here.]

This marks the second Resident Evil film reboot. The franchise previously saw six films directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, starring Milla Jovovich, which, despite deviating from the games, generated $1.2 billion worldwide. A 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of critical acclaim.

Constantin Film, which produced the Anderson films and Welcome to Raccoon City, will again produce this new reboot, alongside PlayStation Productions. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions adapts Sony's game properties for film and television, with past successes including Uncharted (starring Tom Holland), Gran 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 series and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.