For most filmmakers, there will always be the one that got away. For David Fincher and Brad Pitt, most recently it’s the sequel to 2013’s World War Z. The great eye behind movies such as Se7en, Gone Girl and The Social Network was set to helm World War Z 2, with Pitt returning to star and produce the zombie action flick. Back in February, the project was sadly cancelled.
While Brad Pitt was promoting his upcoming space sci-fi drama, Ad Astra, the World War Z sequel came up in conversation. Here’s what the actor said about his dropped David Fincher collaboration:
We had really good story, which he shepherded, really strong story. The things he had planned for it just hadn’t been seen yet. I’m sure he’ll get it out on something else.
Oh, what could have been! David Fincher apparently played a large role in thinking up the storyline for the zombie movie, per Brad Pitt’s words to Collider. The actor teased some original content from Fincher that never came to be. Yet, he didn’t spill the details because he thinks the filmmaker may use his material on another project.
Of course, this just has us even more curious about what was planned for the second World War Z film! Fincher and Pitt have previously come together for Fight Club, Se7en and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and it would have been intriguing to see how the critically-acclaimed pairing would have brought not only to the genre, but the previously established franchise.
Shortly after the $540 million worldwide success of World War Z in 2013, resulting in it becoming the highest-grossing zombie film of all time, Paramount swiftly greenlighted a sequel. The movie faced a ton of bumps in its development, but was officially cancelled, reportedly after the Chinese government banned films about zombies and ghosts.
Brad Pitt has kept busy with his recent starring role in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and the upcoming release of Ad Astra. However, he recently said he plans to act in fewer movies moving forward as he continues with his producing endeavors. David Fincher has found success on Netflix with his series Mindhunter, which released its second season last month.
Ad Astra centers on Brad Pitt’s astronaut character as he goes on a mission to communicate with his missing father (Tommy Lee Jones) across the solar system. The movie also stars Ruth Negga and Donald Sutherland, and is directed and co-written by James Gray of We Own the Night and The Lost City of Z.
Ad Astra has impressed so far with generally positive reviews by critics so far. The movie will be released this Friday, September 20 among Downton Abbey and Rambo: Last Blood.
