Brad Pitt is taking another shot at a World War Z sequel

More than a decade after the most expensive zombie film to date achieved unmatched box office success, World War Z is making a comeback. According to Deadline, Brad Pitt is ready to reprise his role as Gerry Lane, a retired photojournalist and antidote hunter. In an effort to avoid the development pitfalls of the past decade, Pitt has enlisted Edward Berger, known for directing Riders, Conclave, and All Quiet on the Western Front, as the film's new director.

This move highlights Pitt's newfound confidence in Berger's abilities. In stark contrast, the original World War Z director, Marc Forster, seemingly fell out with Pitt during the film's tumultuous production, with no mention of him in the current discussions. Development for the sequel began long before the initial global zombie adventure, with Forster and Paramount envisioning it as the first in a trilogy, inspired by the best-selling novel Max Brooks penned, presenting an oral history of the fictional apocalypse.

However, the film's finale was salvaged by Damon Lindelof and Drew Goddard, who joined to inject new life into the project. Following the immense box office success of World War Z, several attempts to create a sequel followed, plagued by delays and budget issues after Pitt roped in his old friend David Fincher to helm the project.

With the resurgence of zombie-related media such as Resident Evil and The Last of Us, there may be a ripe opportunity for another go at a sequel. The question remains whether the original characters can unite to conquer the zombie menace, or, much like their predecessors, become embroiled in conflicts and realize they've become the real monsters in this tale.