Joe Eszterhas is writing a new "Basic Instinct" for Amazon MGM Studio's United Artists, nearly 35 years after his original 1992 erotic thriller became a cultural phenomenon. The legendary screenwriter confirmed the project is underway and that Catherine Tramell, the iconic character played by Sharon Stone in the original film, will return for the reboot.
Eszterhas, who penned the source material that made "Basic Instinct" a box office smash and awards contender, was brought on to script the follow-up last year. The original film, directed by Paul Verhoeven, defined 90s cinema with its blend of psychological manipulation, sexual tension, and murder mystery. Stone's Tramell became one of cinema's most unforgettable antiheroes, a brilliant crime novelist suspected of murdering her lover.
The reboot marks a major move for Amazon MGM Studio's prestige arm, United Artists, signaling confidence in reviving established IP for contemporary audiences. The studio has aggressively pursued legacy franchises and high-concept projects to compete with traditional studios and streamers.
Eszterhas' involvement suggests the studio wants authenticity in tone and voice. The original "Basic Instinct" script earned him a reported 3 million dollar deal, a record for screenwriters at the time, and generated significant awards buzz. His return signals Amazon MGM plans a project rooted in the original's DNA rather than a wholesale reimagining.
Whether Stone will actually reprise the role remains unconfirmed, though her return is clearly central to the creative vision. The character's presence could either anchor nostalgia or offer fresh narrative possibilities if the story jumps decades into Tramell's future.
The project arrives as studios increasingly greenlight legacy sequels and reboots targeting audiences nostalgic for 90s cinema. "Basic