WORLD WAR Z 2 Is Now a Priority at Paramount Pictures
Back in 2013, World War Z hit theaters with Brad Pitt battling a global zombie outbreak. It was a box office win, even if its connection to Max Brooks’ 2006 novel was more “loosely inspired” than “faithful adaptation.”
Over a decade later, Paramount is once again looking to the undead, and World War Z 2 is officially being labeled a “priority.”
The update comes from The Hollywood Reporter, following a press meeting with David Ellison, the new chairman and CEO of the recently merged Paramount Skydance Corporation.
Ellison and other execs laid out their vision for the studio’s future, name-dropping major franchises like Star Trek, Top Gun, and Transformers. Surprisingly, World War Z was mentioned in the same breath, with Ellison making it clear it’s part of the company’s top-tier plans.
Ellison emphasized wanting Paramount to be “the No. 1 destination for the most talented artists and filmmakers in the world,” while signaling a push for more theatrical exclusives, including horror and R-rated comedies. That puts World War Z in the middle of a broader strategy to get audiences back into multiplexes.
The mention of the zombie epic is interesting given the history of its would-be sequel. World War Z 2, with Pitt returning and David Fincher directing, had the green light before being canceled in 2019. Pitt later said the sequel’s story was “really good,” which makes this new priority feel like a possible second chance for that vision… or a complete reboot with fresh faces and filmmakers.
Coincidentally, Pitt and Fincher are working together again right now on The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a spinoff from Once Upon A Time In Hollywood. With their history on Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, it’s tempting to imagine them reuniting for a zombie blockbuster, but that’s purely speculation at this point.
World War Z held the title of Pitt’s highest-grossing film for years until F1 surpassed it. If Paramount truly moves forward, it wouldn’t be surprising if they tried to bring back one of the biggest movie stars in the world for another run at the undead.