Resident Evil Reboot In the Works From Barbarian Director

Zach Cregger, director of the acclaimed horror film Barbarian and a member of 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 Cregger writing and directing. Netflix and Warner Bros. are among the four studios vying for the project.

Cregger's Barbarian (2022), a critically successful horror film about a woman discovering a terrifying secret in a rental house, cemented his reputation. His next film, Weapons, is reportedly testing exceptionally well with audiences. (Read our Barbarian review here.)

This marks the second Resident Evil film reboot. Paul W.S. Anderson's six-film series starring Milla Jovovich, while deviating from the games, grossed over $1.2 billion globally. The 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of critical acclaim.

Constantin Film, alongside PlayStation Productions, will produce Cregger's reboot. 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.