United Artists Working to Revive 1992 Thriller ‘Basic Instinct’

The 1992 thriller that shocked, seduced, and sparked cultural debate is being revived. Amazon MGM Studios’ United Artists has acquired the rights to reboot Basic Instinct, with original screenwriter Joe Eszterhas officially returning to pen the new script.

Still untitled, the reboot will be produced by United Artists’ Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt alongside Craig Baumgarten of Vault Entertainment. Vault’s Adam Griffin is on board as executive producer. The announcement marks one of Stuber’s first major moves at UA since taking the reins at Amazon MGM earlier this year.

The original film, directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas, became one of the most talked-about releases of the ’90s. With a worldwide gross of over $350 million, it cemented its status not just as a box office hit but as a lightning rod for controversy and acclaim. Its signature scene, the interrogation sequence featuring Stone, remains one of the most iconic (and parodied) moments in modern cinema.

Douglas starred as troubled detective Nick Curran and Stone as the enigmatic crime novelist Catherine Tramell. The plot kicks off with the brutal murder of a rock star, eerily mirroring a scene from one of Catherine’s novels. As Nick investigates, he becomes entangled in a dangerous and seductive relationship with her, blurring the lines between suspect and lover. The film is infamous for its explicit content and psychological mind games.

As reported by The Wrap Eszterhas, a screenwriter known for pushing boundaries, returns to a genre he helped define. With credits including Flashdance and Jagged Edge, his work often explores themes of power, sexuality, and moral tension. His memoir Hollywood Animal peeled back the curtain on the excess and ego of the industry. Now, he steps once more into the world of Catherine Tramell, the cunning crime novelist whose seductive mind games left a trail of suspicion and obsession.

Amazon MGM and UA have not revealed casting or release details yet, but the creative team’s pedigree is already attracting attention. While expectations are high, the involvement of Eszterhas may give the reboot the same provocative edge that made the original a cultural flashpoint.

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