Zach Cregger, renowned for directing the chilling horror film Barbarian and being a part of the comedy ensemble 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 broken out among studios eager to distribute Cregger's fresh take on Capcom's iconic survival horror game series. Cregger is slated to write and direct this reboot, with four studios, including Netflix and Warner Bros., vying for the distribution rights.
Cregger gained significant attention with his 2022 horror hit Barbarian, which follows a woman who uncovers a terrifying secret in her rental house. His upcoming project, Weapons, has reportedly received overwhelmingly positive feedback from test audiences. You can find our detailed review of Barbarian here.
This upcoming Resident Evil reboot marks the second attempt to relaunch the franchise on screen. Previously, Paul W.S. Anderson directed a series of six Resident Evil films starring Milla Jovovich, which, despite deviating from the game's storyline, amassed a global box office of $1.2 billion. In 2021, Johannes Roberts directed *Welcome to Raccoon City*, a reboot that aimed to stay truer to the games but fell short of the quality set by Capcom's original series.Constantin Film, the production company behind Anderson's films and Welcome to Raccoon City, will again produce this new reboot in collaboration with PlayStation Productions. Established in 2019 by Sony, PlayStation Productions has been instrumental in adapting various games into films and series, including Uncharted starring Tom Holland, Gran Turismo, the The Last of Us TV series, and Twisted Metal.
Looking ahead, PlayStation Productions has a robust lineup of projects in development, 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 the works.