Brad Pitt Returns for 'World War Z' Sequel: Director Revealed!
Brad Pitt is officially returning to star in the long-awaited sequel to "World War Z," with Edward Berger set to direct. Paramount's confirmation at CinemaCon highlights a renewed effort to continue the successful zombie franchise, nearly a decade after the original film's release.
Paramount has officially confirmed the long-awaited sequel to its 2013 apocalyptic blockbuster, “World War Z,” with original star Brad Pitt set to reprise his role. The announcement, initially teased at CinemaCon earlier this year as part of Paramount's commitment to a larger theatrical slate, comes after numerous attempts to get a follow-up film off the ground.
Edward Berger, acclaimed helmer of “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Conclave,” has been tapped to direct the sequel. Berger recently worked with Pitt on A24’s “The Riders,” which wrapped filming earlier this year and is currently in post-production, establishing a familiar partnership. The script for the new installment will be penned by BAFTA and Tony-winning writer Dennis Kelly.
Plot details for the “World War Z” sequel are being closely guarded. Brad Pitt will not only star but also produce the film alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, through his Plan B Entertainment banner. Berger is also on board as an executive producer. This renewed effort marks a significant push by Paramount to bring back one of its heavy-hitting franchises, following previous stalled attempts, including a version from Pitt’s frequent collaborator David Fincher that was ultimately scrapped in 2019, and earlier hopes by director Marc Forster for a trilogy. Other names like J.A. Bayona were also previously attached.
The original “World War Z,” directed by Marc Forster, was based on Max Brooks’ bestselling 2006 novel, “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.” It became a commercial success, grossing over $540 million globally. In the film, Pitt starred as Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator caught with his family in the escalating chaos of a fatal virus turning people into zombies en masse. Lane embarks on a dangerous global quest to find the origin of the outbreak and a potential cure before humanity is completely consumed. While a stark departure from Brooks' novel, the action-oriented film was generally well-received by critics and audiences, holding a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes. The film concluded with the creation of a vaccine that effectively camouflages injected humans from the zombies, leaving the future of Gerry and his family open-ended. Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Peter Capaldi, Ruth Negga, and Matthew Fox also starred in the original.
The news of the “World War Z” sequel comes amidst a busy period for Brad Pitt. He is currently promoting his latest Paramount release, the survival thriller “Heart of the Beast,” directed by David Ayer, which follows a Special Forces officer and his combat dog stranded in the Alaskan wilderness. Pitt is also set to reprise his Oscar-winning role in Netflix’s “The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth,” directed by David Fincher from a Quentin Tarantino screenplay, which debuts in IMAX theaters globally on November 25 before streaming on December 23.
Paramount is hopeful that this new partnership with Edward Berger and Dennis Kelly will finally see the "World War Z" sequel successfully brought to the big screen, reigniting the zombie-infested world for fans worldwide.