World War Z 2: The Epic Sequel That Will Leave You Begging for More

Highlights

World War Z failed to revolutionize the Zombie movie genre due to its deviation from the horror elements that made the book successful.

Viewers found the third act of the movie to be underwhelming and disappointing due to its significant deviation from the original screenplay.

Despite initial plans for World War Z 2, the production faced delays and uncertainties. Concerns over potential earnings and the exclusion of zombie films in the Chinese market played a role in the decision to halt production. As a result, the future of the sequel remains uncertain.

The 2013 film World War Z, based on the beloved book of the same name, aimed to revolutionize the Zombie genre but ultimately fell short. Fans of the World War Z book were disappointed with the live-action adaptation as it disregarded the horror elements that made the book successful. Additionally, the film's poor CGI Zombies and lackluster third act further added to its underwhelming nature. Instead of living up to the hype, World War Z veered towards the typical Hollywood action movie formula. Despite this, the film still had its merits with commendable performances, but it had the potential to be significantly better. Can a potential sequel, World War Z 2, truly redeem the original movie's shortcomings?

What Happens In World War Z?

World War Z follows Gerry Lane, a former UN investigator played by Brad Pitt, as he becomes trapped in traffic in Philadelphia with his family. Initially, the traffic seems normal, but radio reports reveal that a rabies infection has caused humans to turn into flesh-eating zombies. Chaos ensues as explosions occur and traffic collides. Gerry narrowly escapes and takes his family to safety in Freeport, Nova Scotia. However, he is forced out of retirement when given an ultimatum: assist a team in transporting a doctor to uncover the origin of the zombie outbreak or face the removal of his family from the safe zone. Driven by the need to protect his loved ones, Gerry embarks on a journey to South Korea with the team in search of answers about the zombie virus.

While most viewers responded positively to World War Z, the third act of the film received criticism for its disappointing conclusion. The movie's ending was altered significantly from the original screenplay to cater to a more family-friendly audience, deviating from the darker tone of the initial ending. Additionally, the film differs greatly from the book, opting for a cinematic approach rather than the narrative and emotional approach present in the source material. However, this deviation was understandable given the inherent challenges in translating the book's nature onto the big screen.

What could World War Z 2 look like?

World War Z 2, the sequel to the original book, would have followed Gerry on his ongoing journey. The production of World War Z 2 was halted, but it would have brought back director David Fincher and actor Brad Pitt, who had previously collaborated on Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Leaked sources suggested that World War Z 2 would have focused on Gerry as the main character again, leading the fight against the relentless zombie threat and exploring the consequences of the initial vaccine's short-lived effectiveness. This would have led to political tensions and competition among countries for limited resources.

Humanity's hope would be rejuvenated by the creation of a powerful new virus known as E29, specifically engineered to incite zombie-on-zombie conflict. However, the virologist responsible for developing E29 vanishes under perplexing circumstances, leaving behind critical unfinished information essential for mass production of the virus.

In a desperate race against the clock, Gerry sets off on a global quest to track down Dr. Morel, the missing virologist. With the fate of Humanity teetering on the edge and the relentless advance of the zombie threat, the stakes have never been higher as time rapidly elapses.

How could World War Z 2 Improve Upon Its Predecessor?

With the first World War Z movie serving as a valuable lesson, World War Z 2 necessitates a fresh approach that delves deeper into the horror genre, departing from the typical Hollywood action flick. Given its initial R-rating during production, it comes as no surprise that World War Z 2 would adopt a darker tone. Additionally, the film could draw from its source material and learn from the mistakes made in the first installment. The optimal adaptation for World War Z's sequel would be a TV series, as this medium allows for a more accurate portrayal of the book, providing the necessary length to encompass all significant plot points.

Will There Ever Be A World War Z 2

World War Z 2, initially set for a 2017 release with David Fincher as the director and a completed script, faced multiple delays. Brad Pitt's commitments to Once Upon A Time In Hollywood and Ad Astra pushed the release date to 2019. However, when Brad became available, David Fincher was occupied with the second season of Mindhunter. This unfortunate sequence of events made it impossible to shoot World War Z 2, leaving little hope for the movie's release.

Paramount had doubts about the potential earnings for World War Z 2, considering the lower profit they made from the first film despite its $540 million box office success. The high production budget of $200 million further exacerbated their concerns. Additionally, China, a significant movie market, had banned films featuring ghosts and zombies, which could diminish Paramount's profits by excluding them from this lucrative market. This influential factor also contributed to the decision to halt production of the movie.

In 2019, shortly after the production halt, the world was struck by the pandemic, causing Paramount to seemingly forget about the film. Even the producer, Marc Forster, distanced himself from the sequel, stating that it would not be happening anytime soon.

World War Z 2's potential remains uncertain, pending the appointment of a director who can align with Paramount's budgetary restrictions.