Joe Eszterhas, who wrote the original 1992 erotic thriller, is developing a reboot for United Artists under the Amazon MGM banner. The script will bring back Catherine Tramell, the iconic character originally played by Sharon Stone, alongside a new character—the protagonist's daughter Jezebel. Eszterhas has emphasized that the project is designed to be engaging whilst maintaining the creative ambition that defined the original film.

This reboot follows the critical and commercial failure of 2006's 'Basic Instinct 2: Risk Addiction', which Eszterhas criticised as a bland police procedural lacking the wit and provocative edge of its predecessor. The sequel earned just $38 million worldwide compared to the original's $352 million, spurring Eszterhas to commit to restoring the franchise's irreverent spirit. Sharon Stone, who appeared in the failed sequel, concurred that a poorly executed reboot would be pointless.