Brad Pitt’s World War Z Sequel Gets New Script Update From Director

Published Nov 4, 2026, 3:59 PM EST Adam Bentz is a senior news writer at ScreenRant, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and lists. He studied creative writing and English with a concentration in screenwriting at Southern New Hampshire University and interned as a writer/journalist for The Borgen Project, an influential organization that fights global poverty. However, one of his proudest achievements is editing a Leonardo DiCaprio freakout compilation that has over 150K views on YouTube. Adam also fancies himself an amateur film critic on his personal website. The World War Z sequel, starring Brad Pitt, has received a new script update from director Edward Berger. The long-awaited follow-up was first announced shortly after the first film's release in 2013, but was eventually shelved in February 2019 due to budgetary concerns and other issues. World War Z 2 was recently revived in September 2026, closing a deal with Pitt to return, with Oscar nominee Edward Berger (All Quiet on the Western Front, Conclave) taking over as director. Now, talking to Screen Off Script at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival, Berger revealed they are "working hard" on the script for the World War Z sequel. Asked if this is his opportunity to make a big-budget blockbuster à la Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve, the director said it could be, provided they "get the script right" and "don't disappoint the fans." Read Berger's full response below: It could be. It could be. If we get the script right. We’re working on it, we’re working hard on it. We don’t want to disappoint the fans. We only want to bring something to the fans and to this idea that really furthers the story and the movie and really creates something new and can say something about our time. That’s definitely a commercial big film, you know, and we’d love to bring it to the screen. The World War Z sequel has a long and storied history. The first film, directed by Marc Forster, made $540 million at the box office to become the highest-grossing zombie movie of all time, though it was only a modest commercial success considering its big $190–269 million budget. World War Z reviews were mostly positive, resulting in a 67% Rotten Tomatoes score, with critics claiming that the movie delivers plenty of high-octane zombie action, anchored by a strong performance from Brad Pitt, despite its departure from the original 2006 novel by Max Brooks. The sequel has cycled through a few different directors before settling on Berger. It was initially reported that J.A. Bayona would direct the sequel, though he later exited the project due to scheduling conflicts. David Fincher stepped in to replace him, though the sequel was eventually shelved due to budgetary issues and China's ban on zombie movies. Now, a new World War Z movie is in development, with Berger directing and Pitt returning to reprise his role. Dennis Kelly (Matilda: The Musical) is reportedly writing the script, but other than that, not many details are known about the sequel, with plot details under wraps. World War Z stars Brad Pitt as Gerry Lane, a former United Nations investigator who travels the world seeking a solution for a sudden zombie apocalypse. Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Peter Capaldi, Ruth Negga, and Matthew Fox star in supporting roles. It's unclear where the new World War Z movie may go next, but Berger and company are currently working hard on the script trying to figure that out. Release Date June 21, 2013 Runtime 116 minutes Director Marc Forster Writers Damon Lindelof, Drew Goddard, Matthew Michael Carnahan, J. Michael Straczynski, Max Brooks Producers Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Ian Bryce, Jeremy Kleiner Franchise(s) World War Z