Amazon MGM Studios and United Artists are bringing back one of the most controversial and iconic thrillers of the 1990s. According to Variety, legendary screenwriter Joe Eszterhas has signed a blockbuster $4 million deal to pen an “anti-woke” reboot of Basic Instinct — the erotic thriller that made Sharon Stone a global star.

The deal includes a guaranteed $2 million upfront, with the remaining amount paid if the film goes into production, making it the biggest spec script sale of the year.

Eszterhas, now 80, addressed critics questioning his ability to write another steamy thriller:

“The rumors of my cinematic impotence are exaggerated and ageist,” he told TheWrap. “I call my writing partner the TWISTED LITTLE MAN… He tells me he is sky-high to write this piece and provide viewers with a wild and orgasmic ride.”

While plot details are under wraps, the reboot is expected to take an unapologetically provocative approach. Sharon Stone is reportedly in talks to reprise her role as Catherine Tramell, the seductive novelist whose interrogation scene without underwear became a pop-culture milestone.

The original Basic Instinct (1992), directed by Paul Verhoeven and co-starring Michael Douglas, was a cultural phenomenon. It grossed over $350 million worldwide (around $800 million today) and cemented the erotic thriller as a Hollywood powerhouse. Despite protests from LGBTQ+ groups at the time, the film became an enduring classic.

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Producers for the reboot include Scott Stuber and Nick Nesbitt (United Artists) and Craig Baumgarten and Adam Griffin from Vault Entertainment.

Amazon MGM’s latest move signals its growing investment in high-profile projects, following its upcoming Project Hail Mary adaptation and full acquisition of the James Bond franchise.