Brad Pitt Returns for World War Z Sequel Directed by Edward Berger

Paramount is moving forward with World War Z 2, confirming that Brad Pitt will return to his role as former United Nations investigator Gerry Lane. Edward Berger, the director of Conclave and All Quiet on the Western Front, will direct the sequel, with British playwright Dennis Kelly writing the script.

The 2013 original, based on Max Brooks' bestselling novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, followed Pitt's character as he searched for a cure to a deadly virus that transformed people into zombies. The film grossed $540 million against a $269 million budget, making it Pitt's highest-grossing film as a lead next to the Oscar-winning F1.

Pitt has expressed interest in making a World War Z sequel for over a decade. The project previously stalled due to budget concerns, and director David Fincher was at one point attached to helm the film. Fincher had planned to explore the origin of the virus in a style he compared to HBO's The Last of Us, noting that he intended to use a parasite in the title sequence similar to the approach taken in that series.

Plot details for the sequel remain under wraps. It is currently unclear when World War Z 2 will be released, though a debut in the next couple of years is considered likely since filming has not yet begun.

The World War Z franchise has seen recent activity beyond film. Earlier this year, the World War Z video game featured a crossover with The Walking Dead, which was positively received by players.