Brad Pitt is expected to return for the sequel, which is aiming for a 2017 release. The first film was plagued by reshoots and ended up being rated PG-13, a crushing disappointment for zombie fans, and if the above quote is accurate, then it looks like we’ll be getting another straightforward action pic rather than a true living dead picture.
This writer here tells us, in regards to WORLD WAR Z: “Like it or hate it (probably hate) . . .” but then informs us four words later that the film earned $589 million worldwide. That’s kinda like saying, ‘It’s not raining, but water is falling from the sky.” What he SHOULD have said is that, while a certain percentage of genre fans hated the movie, and have been very vocal about their hatred, it nevertheless was a big hit, which implies that a lotta people really liked it. If everybody had hated it, it would hardly have scored such impressive box office and for sure wouldn’t be getting a sequel. So why did that vociferous percentage hate WWZ? Basically because it was a PG-13 film, more of an Action movie than a true Horror flick. In other words, because it wasn’t George Romero or THE WALKING DEAD. And they’re right. It wasn’t.
Also some have harped on the fact the movie bears so little resemblance to the novel by Max Brooks. They’re right about this, too. It doesn’t. BUT. A movie version of the book would have been a tricky thing to pull off. It’s not a book written to be transitioned to film. And the story they ended up going with, despite numerous reported rewrites, was solid. Also if I want Romero, I’ll go watch Romero. A zombie flick doesn’t have to have blood spurting as if from a field of gory geysers to be entertaining. Not for me, at least.