13 Years Later, Brad Pitt’s $540 Million Action Thriller Sequel Officially Moving Forward

World War Z opened in theaters on June 21, 2013, and was based on the popular book of the same name by author Max Brooks. Despite highly publicized behind-the-scenes issues that led to the film’s ending being reshot, World War Z was a box office hit, earning $540 million worldwide. A sequel was quickly put into development, but it has faced many delays and false starts over the past 13 years. After years in development hell, the sequel to World War Z seems closer to reality, with Brad Pitt set to return and an Academy Award-nominated filmmaker at the helm.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms that Edward Berger will direct the sequel to World War Z. Berger’s previous credits include All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave, the former earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay and a win for Best International Feature Film. Pitt is returning to star in and produce the film. Berger was previously in talks to work with Pitt on Ocean’s 14, before David Leitch signed on. Dennis Kelly, a playwright best known for Matilda: The Musical, is penning the script for the World War Z follow-up. Paramount Pictures will distribute the film. No release date is set.

The road to a World War Z sequel has been filled with starts and stops. Before the first film came out, director Marc Marc Forster had plans for a trilogy. However due to the conflicts on set between Pitt and Forester, as well as the ballooning budget and a reworked ending, Paramount Pictures put any plans for a sequel on hold. By the end of 2013, after World War Z opened and became a box office hit, Paramount Pictures fast-tracked a sequel and signed J. A. Bayona to direct, with an intended June 9, 2017, release date.

By 2016, Bayona had left the project in favor of Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. In a shocking move, David Fincher entered talks to direct in 2017. Although Fincher had largely avoided big blockbuster films after Alien 3, his working relationship with Pitt on Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button seemed to persuade him to take the job. With Fincher signed on, filming was set to begin in June 2019. Yet in February 2019, the film was canceled.

After Skydance acquired Paramount Pictures in 2025, a World War Z sequel became a top priority for the studio. It officially announced the film at CinemaCon in 2026. Berger is certainly an interesting choice, and not the first name someone would pick for a blockbuster sequel or a zombie film. Pitt clearly wanted an acclaimed director to help the sequel stand out in the blockbuster market. While Fincher might not be directing World War Z, he and Pitt will reunite with the upcoming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood sequel, The Further Mis-Adventures of Cliff Booth.