Barbarian's Evileigh to Direct Resident Evil Reboot

Zach Cregger, the director behind the hit horror film Barbarian and a founding member of comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is developing a Resident Evil movie reboot.

The Hollywood Reporter reveals a fierce bidding war has broken out among studios vying for distribution rights to Cregger's fresh interpretation of Capcom's iconic survival horror series. Cregger is confirmed to write and direct the project, with four major studios—including Netflix and Warner Bros.—reportedly competing for the deal.

Cregger gained widespread recognition for his 2022 horror sensation Barbarian, which follows a woman who books an Airbnb only to uncover the property's terrifying hidden truth. The filmmaker has already completed his next project, Weapons, which early test screenings indicate is resonating powerfully with audiences.

Read our full Barbarian review here.

This marks the second screen reboot for the Resident Evil franchise. The original six-film series, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, grossed $1.2 billion globally despite taking creative liberties with the source material. Director Johannes Roberts' 2021 reboot Welcome to Raccoon City attempted greater fidelity to the games but still fell short of capturing the quality that defines Capcom's acclaimed series.

Similar to previous Anderson films and Welcome to Raccoon City, Constantin Film will produce the new reboot alongside PlayStation Productions. Sony established PlayStation Productions in 2019 to steward adaptations of its gaming properties, including Tom Holland's Uncharted, Gran Turismo, The Last of Us television series, and Twisted Metal.

Future PlayStation Productions adaptations include Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, Horizon Zero Dawn, and an Uncharted sequel. Development is also underway on a God of War television series, alongside a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime.