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Berger to Direct 'World War Z' Sequel with Pitt Returning
Confirmed
In Short: Edward Berger will direct the 'World War Z' sequel, with Brad Pitt set to reprise his role.
Paramount Pictures has finally secured Edward Berger to direct the long-awaited 'World War Z' sequel, with Brad Pitt set to reprise his role as Gerry Lane.
Berger, known for directing 'All Quiet on the Western Front' and 'Conclave,' will helm the project from a screenplay by Tony-winning playwright Dennis Kelly.
Brad Pitt, who starred in the original 2013 film, has been attached to return for the sequel for over a decade.
The original 'World War Z' grossed over $540 million worldwide and was directed by Marc Forster, based on Max Brooks' novel.
Pitt and Berger recently wrapped production on 'The Riders,' a psychological thriller, which reportedly helped solidify their working relationship.
Sources say Pitt began pitching Berger on the 'World War Z' sequel early in the production of 'The Riders,' highlighting the actor's enthusiasm for the project.
Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner will produce the sequel through their production company, Plan B Entertainment.
Skydance, which played a significant role in getting the first film off the ground, also supported the move to proceed with the sequel.
The original film followed Gerry Lane as he raced to stop a zombie pandemic from consuming the globe.
While no plot details have been released, the sequel is expected to be an original story, separate from the source material.
The project reunites Pitt with director David Ayer, known for 'Fury,' and marks a high-priority project for Paramount.
What this adds
This news adds to the ongoing development of the 'World War Z' franchise, which has seen multiple directors attached over the years.
Sources have not established a release date or additional cast members for the sequel.
Background
Paramount has finally secured Edward Berger to direct the long-awaited 'World War Z' sequel, with Brad Pitt set to reprise his role.
What's confirmed
- For over a decade now, Paramount has been trying to make a sequel to World War Z.
- According to The Hollywood Reporter, Berger is directing the World War Z sequel, with Tony winner Dennis Kelly having written the screenplay.
- Brad Pitt was always attached to return and star in the second movie, though initially, it was J.A.
- Bayona and David Fincher who were initially lined up to direct.
- Well, it seems like Paramount has finally cracked the sequel, and it’s Edward Berger who’s going to helm.
- Marc Forster directed the first one, which was an adaptation of the popular Max Brooks book.
- Things could still fall apart, but this is a priority for Paramount, so with Berger on board and Pitt returning, this might actually happen.
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- World War Z is based on Max Brooks bestselling 2006 novel, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.
- Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner will produce on behalf of Plan B Entertainment.
- Quite different from the movie adaptation, it tells the story of the zombie apocalypse from various perspectives around the world.
- Big news for World War Z fans, as Deadline reports that Brad Pitt, star of the original film, is set to return in the sequel to the zombie epic!
What's still developing
- By end of production, Berger was on board and in recent weeks the studio was able to close the deal with both talents to board the project.
- Pitt can also be seen later this year in the Netflix pic The Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.
- The filmmaker directed the intense Oscar-winner Conclave, as well as pictures such as All Quiet on the Western Front and a few episodes of the hit series The Terror.
- David Fincher was originally tapped to direct the film, but budgetary issues saw him exit the project, according to Deadline.
- Paramount confirmed in April that a follow-up was in active development.
- The two saw a WWZ sequel as a high-priority project, confirming their desire to get the film made at the recent CinemaCon event in Vegas.
- And clearly the top brass at Paramount have been feeling the same, as THR has today dropped the unexpected but not at all unwelcome news that a sequel to Marc Forster's 2013 zombie movie World War Z is finally moving forwards at the studio.