Resident Evil reboot: 47 Meters Down director Johannes Roberts to reportedly write, helm action-horror film

The Resident Evil reboot has roped in Johannes Roberts to take on the directorial reins of the film, announced Variety. Rogers, known for his survival drama 47 Meters Down, will also be penning the project.

Resident Evil is touted as the highest-grossing film franchise based on a video game, and has cumulatively earned $1.2 billion worldwide, the report said. The reboot for the famed action-horror franchise was announced in May 2017 and is expected to begin production next year with a fresh cast.

The films, based on a Japanese video game franchise, follow Alice (played by Milla Jovovich) as she battles the Umbrella Corporation, whose bio-weapons have triggered a zombie apocalypse. The character of Alice was created specifically for the film series, but other characters from the games also make their appearance in the films, including Jill Valentine, Carlos Olivera, Claire Redfield, Albert Wesker, Chris Redfield, Barry Burton, Leon S. Kennedy, Ada Wong and James Marcus.

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter released in 2016 opened to mixed reviews, but managed to rake $312 million worldwide, Variety informed.

Roberts is currently involved in the production of the sequel to 47 Meters Down, titled 47 Meters Down: The Next Chapter. He has also helmed slasher film Strangers: Prey at Night and supernatural flick The Other Side of the Door.