The zombie-based novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War caused quite a stir in literary and movie circles when it was released back in 2006; even causing a bidding war for the film rights between Leonardo DiCaprio’s (Shutter Island) production company Appian Way, and Brad Pitt’s (Fight Club) Plan B Entertainment; but ever since Plan B won the film rights back in 2007, and the script was leaked online, there’s been little developmental progress.
However the books author (Max Brooks) is currently at Comic-Con, and recently confirmed to MTV that not only is the movie adaptation of his best-seller moving forward, but that Brad Pitt is now officially signed on to appear in the lead role, in a recently re-scripted version of the movie.
Max think’s that they really have “found the right team” to produce a great film; as Marc Forster (Quantum of Solace) is still attached to direct the picture; which focusses on a worldwide Zombie pandemic that is retold through the first-hand accounts of its survivors; and may be only the first of three Max Brooks zombie movies released, as Paramount has also optioned The Zombie Survival Guide, and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks.
World War Z’s script was written by J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5), rewritten by Matthew Michael Carnahan (The Kingdom); which is an odd decision, even considering the previous leak, as Ain’t It Cool News described the last draft as “a genre defining piece of work that could see us arguing about whether or not a zombie movie qualifies as ‘Best Picture’ material”; is currently slated for a summer 2012 release date, and promises to be absolutely nothing like Paul is Undead.
