The Last Of Us: How One Cancelled Horror Movie Sequel became Obsolete
The Last of Us effectively extinguished the demand for a highly anticipated sequel to a zombie film, as confirmed by the director who was on the verge of helming it
Highlights
The failure to produce a sequel to World War Z turned out to be a blessing in disguise for director David Fincher, who found solace in the success of The Last of Us series. This unexpected turn of events allowed him to delve deeper into the similar themes that fascinated him, with more freedom and creativity.
The success of The Last of Us proved that video game adaptations can thrive when staying loyal to the original material and capturing the interest of both gamers and a broader audience.
Director David Fincher expressed his satisfaction with the cancellation of his World War Z sequel, seemingly due to the immense success and quality of The Last of Us series. The show effectively translated its gritty source material into a live-action format, surpassing expectations and setting a higher standard for video game adaptations after the outstanding reception of its first season.
While The Last of Us didn’t pioneer the break of the video game adaptation curse, it was a resounding success and covered significant ground. In a conversation with GQ about his latest project, a black comedy exploring themes of revenge entitled The Killer, Fincher disclosed that he was relieved he didn't proceed with the directing of a sequel to World War Z, to which he had been attached. When queried about the discarded sequel to the 2013 film, Fincher responded, "Well, it was somewhat akin to The Last of Us. I'm grateful that we didn't pursue what we were working on, since The Last of Us has a much larger scope to delve into the same subject matter. In our opening credits, we had intended to depict the little parasite...they utilized it in their opening credits and in that fantastic initial scene resembling a talk show reminiscent of Dick Cavett or David Frost." Additionally, Fincher mentioned that there has been ongoing discussion regarding a more faithful adaptation of World War Z.
World War Z, a 2013 action horror film adapted from Max Brooks' novel of the same name and distributed by Paramount, faced various challenges during production. Despite these challenges, the film was successful and Paramount executives envisioned it as a trilogy with a more grounded and gun-focused narrative compared to AMC's The Walking Dead. However, despite initial preparations and David Fincher's attachment as director, the project was ultimately cancelled, reportedly due to the Chinese government's ban on such films at that time, resulting in a missed opportunity in a significant market. While the planned sequel is unlikely to materialize, fans were offered some consolation with the announcement of a World War Z video game at the 2017 Game Awards, which continues to be active today.
Although many fans believe a World War Z sequel could have improved upon the original, it is understandable that Fincher made a logical decision. The Last of Us had the unique advantage of being an adaptation of a well-written and cohesive story with compelling characters that resonated with a contemporary audience. Additionally, being a video game adaptation allowed it to bring in an existing audience alongside fans of the genre. Given these similarities, it is clear that both projects would have faced unfavorable comparisons from viewers, potentially diminishing the impact of both.
The legacy of World War Z is well-deserved, and The Last of Us sets an example for other video game adaptations on how to successfully and authentically provide fans with an immersive live-action experience that perfectly complements the dynamic nature of gaming. It is not a mere attempt at making quick money, but rather a standalone piece of media that can be enjoyed by all. Currently, season 1 of The Last of Us is available for streaming on Max.
Source: GQ
