Brad Pitt To Return For ‘World War Z’ Sequel, ‘Conclave’ Director Edward Berger To Helm Film

Los Angeles: Hollywood star Brad Pitt is set to reprise his role as Gerry Lane in the long-awaited sequel to the 2013 zombie thriller World War Z.

The upcoming film is being developed by Paramount Pictures and will be directed by Edward Berger, the award-winning filmmaker behind Conclave and All Quiet on the Western Front. British screenwriter Dennis Kelly will write the screenplay, Variety reported.

Pitt will also produce the sequel alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner through their production company Plan B Entertainment. Berger will serve as an executive producer.

Plot details of the sequel are currently being kept under wraps.

Brad Pitt, Edward Berger To Collaborate Again

The World War Z sequel will mark the second collaboration between Pitt and Berger. The two recently worked together on The Riders, an upcoming psychological thriller based on Tim Winton’s novel.

Pitt starred in the original World War Z as Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator who is pulled back into action after a rapidly spreading zombie pandemic threatens governments and human civilisation.

Directed by Marc Forster, the 2013 film followed Lane as he travelled across several countries in a race against time to uncover the origins of the outbreak and find a way to stop the pandemic.

‘World War Z’ Was A Major Box Office Success

The original film was based on Max Brooks’ 2006 novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. It also featured Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale and Daniella Kertesz.

World War Z grossed more than $540 million worldwide and became the highest-grossing zombie film at the time.

Sequel Faced Years Of Delays

The sequel has had a lengthy and complicated development. Filmmaker David Fincher was previously attached to direct the project, with Pitt expected to return, but that version was eventually scrapped in 2019.

In April, Paramount announced that a new World War Z film was in development, although the studio initially did not reveal its director or cast.

Berger won the Academy Award for his 2022 war drama All Quiet on the Western Front before directing the 2024 papal thriller Conclave.

Brad Pitt’s Upcoming Projects

Pitt was most recently seen in F1: The Movie, in which he played veteran Formula One driver Sonny Hayes.

He is also set to appear in David Ayer’s survival thriller Heart of the Beast, followed by The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth, in which he will reprise his Oscar-winning role as stuntman Cliff Booth.