Brad Pitt Returns for ‘World War Z’ Sequel, Edward Berger to Direct
Hollywood actor Brad Pitt is set to reprise his role as former UN investigator Gerry Lane in the long-awaited sequel to his 2013 zombie thriller, ‘World War Z’. According to a report by ‘Variety’, Edward Berger—the Oscar-winning director behind films like ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and ‘Conclave’—will direct the sequel, which is being produced by Paramount Pictures. British screenwriter Dennis Kelly has been tapped to write the screenplay.
Pitt will also produce the film through his production banner, ‘Plan B Entertainment’, alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. Berger will serve as an executive producer. This film marks the second collaboration between Pitt and Berger; the duo recently worked together on the upcoming psychological thriller ‘The Riders’, based on Tim Winton’s novel.
In the original ‘World War Z’, directed by Marc Forster, Pitt played Lane, a former United Nations employee. He is forced back into action when a rapidly spreading zombie pandemic threatens to topple governments and wipe out humanity.
Based on Max Brooks’ 2006 novel ‘World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War’, the film followed Lane as he traveled across the globe, racing against time to understand the origins of the pandemic and find a way to stop it.
The original film also starred Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, and Daniella Kertesz. It grossed over $540 million at the global box office and became the highest-grossing zombie film at the time.
The journey of this sequel to the screen has been long and arduous. Filmmaker David Fincher was initially set to direct the project, with Pitt expected to return, but that version was ultimately scrapped in 2019.
In April, Paramount announced that a new ‘World War Z’ film was in the works, although no details regarding the director or cast were initially provided.
