World War Z 2: What Do We Know About It?

It’s almost been a decade since we saw Brad Pitt magically winding up zombies in the air. Any chance we can still vouch for World War Z 2? Well, this article will reveal everything. 

Do you remember when the zombie craze peaked in 2013, and World War Z was a highly anticipated film among horror and zombie enthusiasts? Starring Brad Pitt, the movie was loosely based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks and was directed by Marc Forster. 

The film tells the story of a former United Nations investigator, played by Pitt, tasked with finding the source of a zombie pandemic that threatens to wipe out humanity. The movie was known for its large-scale action sequences, impressive special effects, and suspenseful atmosphere.

Despite the high expectations, World War Z received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its fast-paced action and others criticizing its lack of character development and departure from the source material. However, the film was a commercial success, grossing over $540 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing zombie film of all time.

Interestingly, the film’s production was plagued with problems, including script rewrites, reshoots, and budget overruns. Nevertheless, the filmmakers delivered a polished final product that entertained audiences and fueled the zombie craze of the early 2010s.

Since then, fans have wondered if they’ll ever see their dashing hero fighting the zombies on the screen again. Well, let’s find out.

Is There Going To Be World War Z 2?

After the first film’s success, it was announced that a sequel to World War Z was in the works in late 2013. Brad Pitt, who produced and starred in the first film, confirmed his involvement in the sequel. J.A. Bayona, known for directing The Orphanage and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, was chosen to direct the sequel.

The script for the film was penned by Steven Knight, the creator of the popular TV series Peaky Blinders. However, there have been several delays in the film’s production, and to my knowledge, a cutoff in 2021, there was no new update on the release date or progress of the sequel.

In 2016, J.A. Bayona announced that he was leaving the project due to scheduling conflicts, as he needed more time to work on A Monster Calls, which he was directing at the time. This delay in production caused Paramount to miss the original June 2017 release date they had initially planned for the film.

Following Bayona’s departure, David Fincher was considered a potential replacement director for the project, but no official announcement was made regarding his involvement. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, there were no new updates on the director for World War Z 2.

In a surprising turn of events, David Fincher signed on as the director for the World War Z sequel after J.A. Bayona departed the project. Fincher confirmed in a 2017 interview with Little White Lies that he and his team were working on the film and deconstructing the story against the existing mythology to see where they could take it. 

In 2019, the World War Z sequel went into pre-production with David Fincher as the director and a revised script by Dennis Kelly. However, in February of that year, Paramount unexpectedly pulled the plug on the film due to budgeting issues. The Hollywood Reporter reported that the studio refused to greenlight Fincher’s proposed $200 million budget, which was considered too high for a zombie film.

Additionally, China’s ban on zombie films was cited as a determining factor in Paramount’s decision not to proceed with the movie, as the country is a significant market for Hollywood films. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, there were no new updates on the production status or potential revival of the World War Z sequel.

However, despite this announcement, there were still no updates on the release date or progress of the sequel as of my knowledge cutoff in 2023.

Brad Pitt’s Thoughts On World War Z 2:

Brad Pitt has been consistently attached to the World War Z sequel throughout its production troubles and director switch-ups. Pitt was also a staunch defender of the first film, particularly during its troubled shoot.

His involvement in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood caused a delay in the production of the Fincher iteration of the World War Z sequel. Still, Pitt and his production company remained committed to the project nonetheless.

Despite the setbacks, it seems that Pitt has remained dedicated to bringing the sequel to fruition, and it remains to be seen whether the film will eventually be made with him as the star.

In a 2019 interview, Brad Pitt spoke highly of David Fincher’s vision for the World War Z sequel despite the film’s production being shut down mere months prior. Pitt expressed admiration for the “really strong story” that Fincher had shepherded and noted that the director had planned some innovative ideas for the film that had not been seen before.

Pitt’s comments suggest that there was a lot of potential for the sequel and that the film may have offered something new and exciting to the zombie genre.

Is World War Z 2 Cancelled Forever?

Sadly, there won’t be any World War Z 2. In February 2019, Paramount Studios canceled the sequel to the 2013 hit film World War Z. The original film was a massive success, earning $540 million at the box office against a budget of $190 million. This success led many to anticipate a sequel, but the project was ultimately canceled shortly after its announcement.

The reasons for the cancellation were reportedly due to budgeting issues, with the studio rejecting David Fincher’s proposed $200 million budget for the film. Additionally, China’s ban on zombie films was cited as a factor in Paramount’s decision not to proceed with the project.

Director Marc Forster and Paramount had originally intended for World War Z to be the start of a trilogy of films. Following the first film’s success in 2013, a sequel, World War Z 2, was scheduled for release on June 9, 2017. However, the film was plagued by production issues, including the departure of original director J.A. Bayona, and it ultimately failed to materialize.

As I mentioned earlier, David Fincher was later brought on board to direct the sequel, but the project was ultimately canceled due to budgeting issues and other factors.

What Would World War Z 2 Be About?

The first World War Z film was based on the novel of the same name by Max Brooks, although it deviated significantly from the source material. As for the plot of World War Z 2, little is known about it, as the film was ultimately canceled before it could be completed.

However, given the potential for the film to explore new worlds and storylines, as well as the original plan for the franchise to be a trilogy, it is possible that the sequel would have continued to follow the character of Gerry as he navigated the aftermath of the zombie outbreak. It is also possible that the film would have continued to deviate from the source material, as the first film did, and created its unique storylines and characters.

The World War Z novel does explore the aftermath of the zombie outbreak in different parts of the world and at different points in time. There is certainly scope for the filmmakers to use that material to inspire the sequel.

Additionally, given that the first film did deviate from the source material, it is possible that the sequel would have continued in that vein and created its unique storylines and world-building elements. Ultimately, it is hard to say what the plot of World War Z 2 would have been, as the project was ultimately canceled before it could be completed.

World War Z 2 Potential Cast:

Brad Pitt had previously confirmed his involvement in the World War Z sequel, and Mireille Enos had also expressed her willingness to return as Gerry’s wife, Karin Lane. However, given that the project has been canceled for several years, it is unclear if their opinions on reprising their roles have changed.

It is possible that they would still be interested in returning if the project were to be revived. Still, it is also possible that their commitments to other projects and personal factors may have since impacted their availability and interest in the film. Ultimately, until there is official news of the sequel returning to production, it isn’t easy to speculate on the involvement of the original cast members.

Conclusion:

It is currently unclear when or if World War Z 2 will ever be produced. With the cancellation of the project in 2019 and the ongoing uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems unlikely that the project will be revived anytime soon. Marc Forster’s recent comment also confirms that the sequel is not currently developing.

However, as with all things in the entertainment industry, there is always a chance that the project could be picked up again in the future, either by Paramount or another studio. For now, franchise fans will have to wait and see what happens.