Emerald Fennell Denies Reports She's Directing 'Basic Instinct' Reboot Movie

Emerald Fennell is shutting down reports that she’s in negotiations to direct the Basic Instinct reboot movie.

In a recently published interview, Basic Instinct screenwriter Joe Eszterhas, 81, claimed that the 40-year-old Wuthering Heights filmmaker is in talks to direct a remake of the 1992 thriller, which was directed by Paul Verhoeven.

“The producers are negotiating with a really interesting director — a Brit, Emerald Fennell — who did Promising Young Woman and Wuthering Heights,” Eszterhas told The Guardian. “Her sensibility is exactly right. She’s someone who is not afraid of controversy and sexuality. So I’m thrilled by that. I hope it works out.”

Keep reading to find out more…After Eszterhas‘ comments started making headlines, Emerald‘s rep told People “there’s no truth to this” and stated that the Oscar winner “is not involved in any way” with the movie.

The original Basic Instinct movie starred Michael Douglas as a detective who begins a relationship with Sharon Stone‘s character, who is the prime suspect in a murder case he’s investigating.

In July 2025, it was revealed that Basic Instinct was getting reboot with Eszterhas writing a new version of his original screenplay.

Back in 2021, the Basic Instinct director reacted to Sharon‘s claims that she was tricked into doing that infamous nude scene.