Se7en Director Reveals Plans For World War Z Sequel
World War Z, released in June 2013, was a box office smash, grossing over $540 million worldwide. Although a sequel was greenlit following the movie’s success, it never came to fruition, leaving fans wondering what could have been. According to Deadline, director David Fincher recently opened up to GQ about the scrapped World War Z sequel, revealing that it was going to be similar to HBO’s hit show, The Last of Us.
“It was a little like The Last of Us. I’m glad that we didn’t do what we were doing, because The Last of Us has a lot more real estate to explore the same stuff. In our title sequence we were going to use the little parasite…they used it in their title sequence, and in that wonderful opening with the Dick Cavett, David Frost-style talk show.”
David Fincher explaining his plan for World War Z 2
Directed by Marc Forster, World War Z was adapted for the big screen by screenwriters Matthew Michael Carnahan, Drew Goddard, and Damon Lindelof, based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks. The film features a star-studded cast led by the dynamic Brad Pitt. The supporting cast was equally impressive, with performances by Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Daniella Kertesz, Ludi Boeken, Matthew Fox, and David Morse.
World War Z follows the story of former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane (Brad Pitt) as he travels the globe in search of a way to stop a zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, threatening to decimate humanity itself. As the pandemic unfolds, Lane witnesses the severe consequences of the zombie outbreak, from overwhelmed hospitals to entire cities in chaos. In a race against time, Lane must navigate through dangerous territories, make tough decisions, and find a way to turn the tide against the undead, all while trying to keep his own family safe.
Just as the sequel to World War Z faced numerous hurdles before ultimately being canceled, the production of the original film itself was far from smooth, marred by a variety of delays and complications.
Not only did World War Z triumph at the box office, but it also garnered positive reactions from critics and moviegoers alike, prompting Paramount to give the green light for a sequel. Initially, the directorial reins were handed to Juan Antonio Bayona, but his eventual exit from the project led to the recruitment of David Fincher, with the movie slated for a summer 2017 release. Regrettably, a series of production scheduling snafus and other hindrances caused delays, culminating in the studio’s decision to scrap the sequel entirely.
Although Paramount doesn’t seem to have any interest in a World War Z sequel at this time, fans of the franchise shouldn’t completely lose hope.
Just as the sequel to World War Z faced numerous hurdles before ultimately being canceled, the production of the original film itself was far from smooth, marred by a variety of delays and complications. In an attempt to craft a compelling narrative, the screenplay was handed off to multiple writers, each of whom contributed to an ever-expanding and evolving script, consequently extending the overall timeline of the production. Furthermore, the movie was beleaguered by financial issues, posing an additional obstacle to its journey to the big screen.
Although Paramount doesn’t seem to have any interest in a World War Z sequel at this time, fans of the franchise shouldn’t completely lose hope. The enduring popularity of the original movie, combined with the public’s ongoing interest in zombie-related content, could potentially act as powerful motivators for the studio to reconsider its decision and re-explore the possibility of a sequel in the years to come. Therefore, there remains a glimmer of hope that Paramount might one day resurrect the project, bringing the much-desired sequel to the big screen.
