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As pointed out in GeekFeed’s 2017 preview, there was more chance of an actual zombie apocalypse happening than a World War Z sequel meeting its June 2017 release date.
Paramount have subsequently pulled the movie from its schedule, without finding another window for a sequel to the $540m grossing blockbuster.
You might remember that the original film was blighted by alleged on-set altercations between Producer/Star, Brad Pitt, and that films director Marc Forster. There were also expensive re-shoots of the entire third act based on negative test screenings.
Despite all this, and the fact it bore very little resemblance to Max Brooks’ source novel, which is surely something a sequel should mine, it still went on to become the highest grossing film of Pitt’s career, and a pretty decent, if somewhat generic zombie action flick.
El Orfanate and A Monster Calls director, J.A. Boyona was originally attached to the project, before he jumped shipped to run amok on the Jurassic World sequel. At the time he cited a lack of preparation time, so the absence of a new date indicates that Paramount are now willing to get this right, and that might be why The Hollywood Reporter think they have a chance of luring David Fincher.
It’s not the first time he has been linked with the project, but after the Alien 3 debacle, you’d think that even after all this time he’d steer clear of a big-budget franchise with potential studio interference.
Working in the film’s favour is Fincher’s relationship with Pitt, whose own company, Plan B, is producing alongside Skydance, the two having worked together on Se7en and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, with terrific results.
When we’ll get to see the further adventures of the greatest named character in modern movie history, Gerry Lane, is anybody’s guess, but if Fincher’s at the helm then bring on the undead.
Image: Paramount Pictures/20th Century Fox
