Zach Cregger, acclaimed for directing the horror film "Barbarian" and a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is now set to helm a reboot of the iconic Capcom survival horror game franchise, Resident Evil. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a fierce bidding war is underway among four studios, including Netflix and Warner Bros., eager to secure distribution rights for Cregger's vision of the Resident Evil reboot, where he will also take on the role of writer.
Cregger made waves with his 2022 horror hit "Barbarian," which tells the chilling tale of a woman who uncovers a dark secret in her rental house. Following "Barbarian," Cregger has completed his next project, "Weapons," which has reportedly received high praise from test audiences.
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 diverging from the games' narratives, amassed a global box office of $1.2 billion. More recently, Johannes Roberts' "Welcome to Raccoon City" in 2021 aimed for a closer adaptation of the games but struggled to match the acclaim of Capcom's original series.
Constantin Film, the production company behind the Anderson films and "Welcome to Raccoon City," will collaborate with PlayStation Productions on this new reboot. Established in 2019 by Sony, PlayStation Productions has been pivotal in bringing video game stories to life on screen, with projects like "Uncharted" starring Tom Holland, "Gran Turismo," the TV series "The Last of Us," and "Twisted Metal."
Looking ahead, PlayStation Productions has an ambitious slate that includes 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 in development, showcasing the studio's commitment to expanding its video game universe across various media platforms.
