Zach Cregger, acclaimed director of the horror film Barbarian and a member of the comedy troupe The Whitest Kids U Know, is helming a Resident Evil reboot. A bidding war is underway among four studios, including Netflix and Warner Bros., for the distribution rights to Cregger's adaptation of the iconic Capcom survival horror game franchise. Cregger will write and direct the reboot.

Cregger's 2022 film, Barbarian, about a woman who discovers a terrifying secret in a rented house, solidified his horror credentials. He's already completed his next project, Weapons, which reportedly has tested exceptionally well with audiences. [Read our Barbarian review here.]

This marks the second attempt at a Resident Evil film reboot. The franchise previously saw six films directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and starring Milla Jovovich, which, while deviating from the games' storylines, generated $1.2 billion worldwide. A 2021 reboot, Welcome to Raccoon City, directed by Johannes Roberts, aimed for greater game fidelity but fell short of the games' quality.

Constantin Film, alongside PlayStation Productions, will produce Cregger's reboot. Established in 2019, PlayStation Productions adapts Sony's game properties for film and television, with previous successes including Uncharted (starring Tom Holland), Gran Turismo, the The Last of Us TV series, and Twisted Metal.

Future PlayStation Productions projects include films based on Until Dawn, Days Gone, Ghost of Tsushima, Gravity Rush, Helldivers, and Horizon Zero Dawn, as well as an Uncharted sequel. A God of War TV show and a recently announced Ghost of Tsushima anime series are also in development.