Emerald Fennell denies involvement in reported 'Basic Instinct' remake talks

Emerald Fennell is not attached to direct a reboot of Basic Instinct, despite recent claims suggesting otherwise.

A representative for the Wuthering Heights filmmaker confirmed on April 7 that “there’s no truth” to reports linking her to the project, adding that the Oscar-winning director “is not involved in any way.”

The clarification comes after Joe Eszterhas, who wrote the original 1992 thriller, said in an interview with The Guardian that Fennell was in talks to helm a new version of the film.

“The producers are negotiating with a really interesting director — a Brit, Emerald Fennell,” Eszterhas said, praising her work on Promising Young Woman and Wuthering Heights.

“Her sensibility is exactly right… I hope it works out.” However, Fennell’s team has now firmly denied any involvement in the project.

The original Basic Instinct, directed by Paul Verhoeven, starred Michael Douglas as a detective entangled with a murder suspect played by Sharon Stone.

The film became both a commercial hit and a cultural flashpoint, drawing attention for its provocative themes and controversial portrayal of LGBTQ+ characters.

Reports of a reboot first surfaced in July 2025, with Eszterhas returning to write a new screenplay.

At the time, there was speculation that Stone could reprise her iconic role, though the actress has publicly expressed skepticism about reviving the film.

“There’s not going to be a Basic Instinct reboot,” Stone previously said in an interview, dismissing the idea while criticizing the project’s direction.

While the future of the reboot remains uncertain, Fennell’s involvement has now been officially ruled out, putting an end to speculation surrounding the filmmaker’s next move following her recent work on Wuthering Heights.