Barbarian Director Announces Resident Evil Reboot

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 to Cregger's adaptation of Capcom's iconic survival horror franchise. Cregger is slated to write and direct. Four studios, including Netflix and Warner Bros., are reportedly vying for the rights.

Cregger gained recognition for his 2022 horror hit, Barbarian, a suspenseful tale centered around a woman's unsettling discovery in a rented house. He has already completed his next film, Weapons, which reportedly received exceptionally positive audience test screenings.

[Read our Barbarian review here.](link to review - This would need to be added)

This marks the second cinematic reboot of the Resident Evil franchise. A previous series of six films, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, generated $1.2 billion globally, despite deviating from the source material. A 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of critical acclaim.

Constantin Film, in collaboration with PlayStation Productions, will produce Cregger's reboot, mirroring their involvement in prior films. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions facilitates the adaptation of Sony's game properties into 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.