Paramount’s World War Z sequel is moving forward, with Brad Pitt confirmed to return and Conclave’s Edward Berger attached to direct.
It’s two major updates for the post-apocalyptic zombie follow-up that arrived via Deadline. The site said that deals are closed, confirming that World War Z 2 – or whatever it ends up being called – has already nailed down two of the biggest question marks following its announcement in April of this year.
Deadline also reported that Plan B Entertainment’s Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner will produce, with Berger also in the mix as an executive producer. Another update is that Dennis Kelly, the creator of TV series Utopia and writer behind 2021’s Together, will pen the World War Z sequel’s script. It otherwise still seems to be in the early days for the project, as no additional details regarding its plot, release date, or casting have been revealed.
The World War Z IP is being reheated 13 years after the original film successfully introduced audiences to a live-action adaptation of Max Brooks’ 2000s novel. Pitt starred in the first film and has expressed interest in returning to the franchise for some time, but getting it off the ground and back into the zombie horde has proven to be quite the challenge for the last decade. As his roles in movies like Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood and F1 have come and gone, so too have hopes for the sequel.
Issues with confirming a director aside, fans started to expect that a follow-up would never come to be when Paramount put it on the back burner in 2019. The Social Network and Zodiac director David Fincher was even said to be involved at one point, but despite him comparing his ideas for a take to The Last of Us, that version of World War Z never materialized. Berger has now taken the reins.
Berger turned heads when Conclave premiered in 2024, but he’s got more than just the Ralph Fiennes movie under his belt. He also directed 2022’s critically acclaimed war film All Quiet on the Western Front, as well as 2014’s Jack. He’s also said to be involved with Matt Damon’s new Jason Bourne movie, though that particular project’s status is somewhat of a mystery.
The specifics surrounding Pitt’s return to World War Z are unclear. Although the events of the first film could put his character, Gerry Lane, front and center once again, story information has not been revealed. When World War Z 2 does come out, it will mark a reunion for Pitt and Berger, who recently worked together on The Riders. Deadline reported that the former pitched the idea of more World War Z to the latter while working on the project, with the pair ready to get to get back to work by the time production came to an end.
The World War Z sequel has no release date, but at the speed things are moving at now, it may not be too long before we hear more. While we wait, you can read IGN’s 7.6/10 review for the original movie, which earned $540 million at the box office (via Box Office Mojo). You can also see why the developers behind the World War Z video game might feel at least partially responsible for the existence of a sequel.
Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images.
Michael Cripe
Freelance Writer
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
