"Barbarian Director to Reboot Resident Evil"

Zach Cregger, acclaimed for his directorial work on the 2022 horror hit "Barbarian" and a key member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids You Know, is set to helm a new reboot of the iconic Resident Evil franchise. The Hollywood Reporter has detailed a fierce bidding war among several studios, including Netflix and Warner Bros., eager to secure the distribution rights for Cregger's vision of the classic Capcom survival horror series. Cregger will both write and direct this anticipated reboot.

Cregger's recent success with "Barbarian," a chilling tale about a woman uncovering a sinister secret in a rental home, has set high expectations for his upcoming projects. His next film, "Weapons," has reportedly received exceptionally positive test screenings, further solidifying his reputation in the horror genre. You can delve into our review of "Barbarian" here.

This upcoming Resident Evil reboot marks the second attempt at revitalizing the franchise on screen. Previously, Paul W.S. Anderson directed a series of six Resident Evil films, which, while diverging from the game's storylines, amassed a global box office of $1.2 billion, led by star Milla Jovovich. A more recent reboot, "Welcome to Raccoon City," directed by Johannes Roberts in 2021, aimed to stay truer to the original games but struggled to capture the essence of Capcom's beloved series.

Constantin Film, in collaboration with PlayStation Productions, will produce this new iteration of Resident Evil. PlayStation Productions, established by Sony in 2019, has been instrumental in bringing video game narratives to the screen, with notable projects like "Uncharted" starring Tom Holland, "Gran Turismo," the TV series "The Last of Us," and "Twisted Metal."

Looking ahead, PlayStation Productions has a robust lineup including films and series based on "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 are in development, showcasing Sony's commitment to expanding its gaming universe into other media.