Brad Pitt World War Z sequel plans are moving forward at Paramount, with Edward Berger attached to direct the long-awaited follow-up to the 2013 zombie blockbuster.
Pitt will return as the star, while Berger will direct from a screenplay by Dennis Kelly. Paramount has not revealed the plot yet. The studio also has not announced a release date or additional cast members.
Brad Pitt Returns for World War Z Sequel
Pitt will also produce the new movie through Plan B alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. Meanwhile, Berger will serve as an executive producer.
The project marks another major attempt to bring the franchise back to the big screen. Paramount confirmed at CinemaCon in April that the sequel had returned to active development.
However, the movie still has several details to work out before production moves ahead.
The original World War Z arrived in theaters in 2013. Marc Forster directed the film, which drew its story from Max Brooks’ 2006 bestselling novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.
Pitt played Gerry Lane, a former United Nations employee who travels across the world while searching for a way to stop a rapidly spreading zombie pandemic.
The movie became a major commercial success. It earned more than $540 million worldwide and established itself as one of Pitt’s notable action films.
Edward Berger Takes Over the Sequel
Berger brings a different filmmaking background to the franchise. He directed the acclaimed war drama All Quiet on the Western Front and later helmed Conclave.
The director previously worked with Pitt on The Riders for A24. Their reunion now brings Berger into a major studio action franchise.
Dennis Kelly will write the screenplay for the new World War Z. At this stage, Paramount is keeping the story details under wraps.
As a result, it remains unclear whether the sequel will continue Gerry Lane’s story or introduce a different perspective on the zombie outbreak.
Long Road Back to the Big Screen
The sequel has spent years in development. Several filmmakers and creative teams have previously tried to move it forward.
One of the most notable versions involved David Fincher. He was once attached to direct the sequel, but Paramount ultimately scrapped that project in 2019.
Now, the studio has revived the franchise with Berger behind the camera and Pitt returning in a leading role.
Pitt also has several other projects in development. His upcoming work includes Heart of the Beast and The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
For now, fans still have to wait for more details about the new World War Z. Paramount has yet to reveal its release date, supporting cast or official plot.
