Brad Pitt to Return for ‘World War Z’ Sequel, Edward Berger to Direct

World War Z remains one of Hollywood’s biggest zombie movies, and a sequel has been discussed for years. Now, the sequel is finally moving forward at Paramount.

According to Deadline, Brad Pitt is set to return as Gerald “Gerry” Lane, a retired United Nations investigator, for the sequel and will also produce the film. Edward Berger, who directed 2024’s Conclave, has been tapped to direct the movie and will also serve as an executive producer. Dennis Kelly is writing the screenplay for the sequel. The original World War Z was released in 2013 and was based on Max Brooks’ bestselling 2006 novel World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War.

At the end of World War Z, Gerry discovers that zombies ignore sick or injured people because they are unsuitable hosts. Gerry, Segen, and the doctor enter a zombie-infested WHO facility to find pathogen samples, but Gerry becomes separated from them and gets trapped by a zombie. He injects himself with a pathogen, proving his theory when the zombie ignores him. Gerry and Segen escape to Nova Scotia, where he reunites with Karin and their children, including Tommy. Scientists then develop a vaccine that helps people avoid the zombies and gives the military a better way to fight them.

The sequel follows Gerry, who may become involved in a new mission as governments try to contain the remaining outbreaks. The world continues fighting the zombie pandemic and explores how the vaccine is used by civilians and the military.

Pitt wanted to make a sequel to World War Z for over a decade. His longtime collaborator David Fincher was once attached to direct, but the project fell apart over budget concerns. Last summer, the sequel received a major boost when Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg were named co-chairs of Paramount Pictures and pushed World War Z 2 as a high-priority project.

Pitt will produce alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner through Plan B Entertainment.

World War Z was theatrically released by Paramount Pictures in the United States on June 21, 2013. The film earned more than $540 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing zombie movie at the time.