The Basic Instinct reboot at Amazon MGM Studios has taken a significant step forward. Joe Eszterhas, the writer behind the 1992 original, has confirmed that he has completed the screenplay for the new film. He also revealed that the franchise’s most iconic character, Catherine Tramell, will return alongside a brand-new character, her daughter Jezebel. Eszterhas shared the update during a recent interview with Interview Magazine. He confirmed that the screenplay has been completed and is now awaiting approval from Amazon MGM Studios. If the project receives the green light, the next steps will include hiring a director and assembling the cast. No director, production schedule, or release date has been officially announced.
Catherine Tramell, the seductive and enigmatic novelist portrayed by Sharon Stone in the original film, will return in the reboot. However, Stone will not reprise the role. She has previously said during an interview with Today that she does not see the point of making a sequel or reboot and wished the filmmakers well in her own unmistakable style. As a result, the role of Catherine Tramell will be recast.
Eszterhas also confirmed that the reboot will introduce a new character named Jezebel, Catherine’s daughter. He did not reveal any additional details about the character or how central she will be to the story.
The veteran screenwriter was also clear about the conditions under which he agreed to return to the franchise. He said he accepted the project only after being assured that it would be enjoyable to make and that he would have complete creative freedom over the screenplay. Eszterhas described the script as intentionally “politically incorrect” and said he has written several moments designed to surprise audiences. According to him, his goal is to restore the spice, humour, and wit that he believes defined the original film but were missing from the 2006 sequel.
Eszterhas was notably absent from Basic Instinct 2. He revealed that he was paid $1.5 million to have no involvement with the sequel and did not hide his disappointment with the finished film. He described it as “really bad,” arguing that the studio avoided creative risks and, in his view, turned it into “a bland police procedural set in London” that lacked the energy, humour, and edge of the original.
Released in 2006, Basic Instinct 2 brought Sharon Stone back as Catherine Tramell but earned just $38 million worldwide, a fraction of the original film’s global box office performance.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the original Basic Instinct was released in 1992 and became one of the defining erotic thrillers of its era. Produced on a reported $49 million budget, the film grossed approximately $353 million worldwide, turning Sharon Stone into an international star. The film also received multiple Academy Award nominations and became one of Hollywood’s most talked-about releases because of its explicit sexual content, graphic violence, and portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters. Eszterhas believes that the controversy surrounding the original film contributed significantly to its lasting popularity, and he says the new screenplay aims to recapture that bold spirit.
No director has been attached to the project. Earlier reports suggested that Emerald Fennell was being considered to direct, but her representatives later denied any involvement. For now, the project awaits Amazon MGM Studios’ decision on the completed screenplay before moving into the next stage of development, including director and casting discussions. While the reboot is still in its early stages, Eszterhas’ completed script marks the project’s biggest step forward since it was first announced.
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