What Would’ve Happened in the Canceled World War Z Movie Sequel?

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Initially, it wasn’t as if Brad Pitt lacked public attention, but the movie World War Z was intended to launch a science fiction series where Pitt would have found himself right in the heart of a zombie franchise, expanding his role significantly within the world of undead cinema.

In the 2013 movie (now playing on SYFY, check out the schedule here!), Brad Pitt played Gerry Lane, who was coaxed out of retirement and tasked with resuming his role as a United Nations investigator to locate a cure for a worldwide zombie epidemic. The film concluded with an intriguing cliffhanger hinting that the cure made it impossible for zombies to detect uninfected humans, potentially paving the way for a sequel where humanity might struggle to rebuild after the zombie apocalypse had already ravaged the world.

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David Fincher on the unmade World War Z sequel: “It was a little like The Last of Us” 

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As a passionate admirer of cinematic brilliance, I’d like to share some fascinating tidbits about the World War Z franchise. Marc Forster, who brought us enchanting tales like Finding Neverland and Quantum of Solace, was the mastermind behind the first World War Z movie. Interestingly enough, another renowned director, David Fincher, was initially slated to direct Pitt’s return in the proposed sequel.

World War Z was originally inspired by Max Brooks’ 2006 horror novel of the same name. A 2012 Los Angeles Times article highlighted that the first film marked the beginning of what was intended to be a complete zombie-themed trilogy, with Pitt set to continue as the leading character. Unfortunately, despite the initial success and promising plans, the sequel never materialized.

According to various reports, a combination of Fincher’s packed work schedule, financial constraints, and shifting cultural norms at international box offices are said to have hindered the studio’s efforts to progress beyond pre-production on a follow-up to World War Z. By 2019, it was confirmed that plans for the sequel had been abandoned. However, in a 2023 interview with GQ, following the premiere of the first season of post-apocalyptic series The Last of Us starring Pitt, Fincher shared some insights into potential directions their collaboration on the sequel might have taken.

Fincher shared that our project had a similar feel to “The Last of Us,” he added. It was fortunate for us not to proceed with what we were planning since The Last of Us offers more ground to delve into similar themes. In our opening credits, we intended to incorporate the parasite, which they also utilized in their title sequence and the captivating Dick Cavett, David Frost-style talk show introduction.

In the world of gaming, I found myself utterly captivated by “The Last of Us.” From the get-go, it skillfully portrayed a chilling domino effect as humanity’s panic spiraled from the initial reports of a swiftly spreading fungal pandemic transforming humans into the terrifying “clickers.” Even director Fincher, renowned for his work in similar themes, praised this series. Interestingly, he hinted that his “World War Z” sequel might deviate even more from Max Brooks’ book than the first film did, but he left us intrigued with a suggestion of potential closer adherence to the source material – something they’re discussing.

Due to a lack of recent updates about the situation in the World War Z universe, it’s uncertain if another film will be made or if the series could undergo a revamp with fresh ideas and actors. For now, the franchise is confined to just the initial movie, but at least that movie is excellent.

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2025-06-05 23:02