Veteran screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has confirmed that he has completed the script for the new Basic Instinct reboot, bringing back the iconic character Catherine Tramell nearly 35 years after the original film’s release.
According to Variety, speaking to Interview Magazine, Eszterhas said Amazon MGM Studios and its United Artists label approached him with the project and asked if he had ideas for a fresh take. He said he did and aimed to recapture the spirit that made the 1992 thriller a success.
Eszterhas also criticised the 2006 sequel, Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction, in which Sharon Stone returned as Catherine Tramell. He said the film lacked the humour, wit and boldness of the original. He added that the sequel became a conventional police drama and failed to match the original’s appeal. The sequel earned about $38 million worldwide, far below the original Basic Instinct, which grossed around $352 million globally.
Eszterhas said the new film must remain entertaining. “It has to be fun and enjoyable. I just finished the script and we’ll see,” he said.
He confirmed that Catherine Tramell returns in the reboot alongside a new character, her daughter, Jezebel. However, he declined to reveal further details about the story.
In July 2025, Eszterhas described the reboot as a “wild and orgasmic ride”. United Artists is producing the project with Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt. Vault Entertainment producers Craig Baumgarten and Adam Griffin have also joined the production, with Griffin serving as executive producer.
Stone also commented on the reboot last August. She said the new film must avoid repeating the mistakes of the 2006 sequel and wished the filmmakers good luck if they chose a similar approach.
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the original Basic Instinct starred Michael Douglas as Detective Nick Curran and Sharon Stone as Catherine Tramell, a crime novelist who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a rock star.
