Another Resident Evil reboot is on the way, and the project’s choice of director has sparked a major bidding war between rival studios. Also known as Biohazard in Japan, the hit horror game franchise originally inspired a series of live-action movie adaptations that starred Milla Jovovich between 2002 and 2016. Additionally, Netflix tried its own hand at a live-action television series in 2022, while British filmmaker Johannes Roberts attempted his own movie reboot dubbed Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City in 2021.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Barbarian director Zach Cregger is attached to write and direct a fresh attempt at rebooting the Resident Evil franchise, with Constantin Film and PlayStation Productions set to produce. According to the report, Cregger’s participation has sparked a bidding war among four potential studios, including Warner Bros. and Netflix. The filmmaker’s take on the latest reboot is described as being more faithful to the original games and their horror roots.
What The Bidding War Means For The Latest Resident Evil Reboot
The Resident Evil Movies Were Profitable Despite Mixed Reviews
Despite the original Jovovich Resident Evil movies largely falling flat with critics, the six films in the series would ultimately go on to gross over $1.28 billion at the worldwide box office and come to be considered one of the most financially successful adaptations of a video game property. Furthermore, while the box office takings for 2021’s Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City reboot would fall well short of the success enjoyed by its predecessors, it also managed to generate a moderate profit despite its mixed reviews.
As such, it is easy to see why several studios would be keen to acquire the project, especially in the hands of a rising filmmaker whose 2022 horror outing was lauded by critics and audiences alike. Moreover, Netflix’s reported interest in the project could also signal a desire to make up for the lackluster response to their previous attempt at a live-action Resident Evil television series.
Our Take On The Latest Resident Evil Reboot
Fans May Finally Get The Faithful Adaptation They Deserve
Despite some exciting animated outings, fans of the original Resident Evil games are still clamoring for a proper adaptation of the beloved gaming franchise. While 2021’s Welcome to Racoon City reboot perhaps came closer to honoring the game lore than any other attempt, many viewers felt that the film’s budget cuts prevented it from reaching its true potential. With any luck, the interest in this latest iteration of the franchise will also signal a willingness to provide Cregger with the kind of support necessary to deliver the kind of Resident Evil adaptation fans have long been crying out for.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
