A new Resident Evil Movie Reboot is in the Works with Zach Cregger Directing

A new Resident Evil movie is in the works, with a bidding war heating up among major studios for the rights. Zach Cregger, director of the critically acclaimed horror film Barbarian, is attached to write and direct the reboot. According to The Hollywood Reporter, this new film will be a return to the horror roots of the franchise, staying true to the spirit of the original games – something previous adaptations failed to achieve.

The rights to the upcoming Resident Evil movie are now up for grabs, and Warner Bros. and Netflix are reportedly among the studios vying for it. Cregger’s rising star power, bolstered by his success with Barbarian and his upcoming film Weapons, has made the project highly sought after. The reboot promises to be a stark departure from the 2021 Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City, which attempted to adapt the first two games but failed to make a significant impact at the box office. Fans can look forward to a more faithful take on the franchise, focusing on the horror elements that made the original games so iconic.

Zach Cregger co-founded the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U'Know in 2000 and gained recognition through live performances and internet sketches. The troupe’s success led to their HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival win in 2006. Cregger transitioned to film, appearing in College (2008), directing The Civil War on Drugs, and starring in TV shows like Friends with Benefits and Guys with Kids. In 2022, he wrote and directed Barbarian, a horror film. Cregger is also working on Mars (2024) and a Resident Evil reboot.

Barbarian (2022) is a horror thriller directed by Zach Cregger. The film follows Tess, who arrives at a double-booked rental home and encounters Keith, only to uncover dark secrets within the dwelling. The movie stars Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, and Justin Long, and received positive reviews while grossing $45.4 million worldwide.

Zach Cregger was inspired by the non-fiction book The Gift of Fear while writing Barbarian, using its advice to trust intuition and recognize red flags in interactions. He initially wrote a thirty-page scene set in an Airbnb to explore these ideas, but when the story felt predictable, he added a twist that transformed it into a feature film. The title Barbarian started as a placeholder but eventually became the film's official name.