Edward Berger Says the ‘World War Z’ Sequel Could Be a Nolan-Sized Blockbuster if the Script Is Right

More than a decade after Brad Pitt’s ‘World War Z’ became a global hit, its long-delayed sequel is finally moving forward. Directed by Marc Forster and loosely based on Max Brooks’ 2006 novel, the original grossed about $540 million worldwide and is described by Screen Rant and MovieWeb as the highest-grossing zombie movie of all time.

A follow-up was announced shortly after the first film’s release, but it spent years stuck in development. J.A. Bayona was initially attached and left because of scheduling conflicts, and a later version from David Fincher was shelved in 2019.

The project came back to life in 2026. Paramount announced at CinemaCon in April that the sequel was in active development, and in September, Pitt closed a deal to return with Edward Berger directing.

Berger, an Oscar nominee for ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and the director of ‘Conclave’, recently worked with Pitt on A24’s ‘The Riders’. Dennis Kelly, whose credits include ‘Matilda: The Musical’, is writing the script.

Now Berger is offering an update on how big the sequel could be. Speaking at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival with Screen Off Script, as highlighted by The Hollywood Handle, he was asked whether ‘World War Z 2’ could become a large-scale blockbuster like the films of Christopher Nolan or Denis Villeneuve.

Edward Berger says ‘WORLD WAR Z 2’ could become a large-scale blockbuster in the vein of Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve’s films, if they get the script right. “We don’t want to disappoint the fans.” (Via: https://t.co/nPrbpQ4Uhu) https://t.co/R5e7HN6EPh

— The Hollywood Handle (@HollywoodHandle) November 4, 2026

Berger said it could, as long as the team gets the script right. He added that they are working hard on it and don’t want to disappoint the fans. Berger made it clear the goal is more than a simple retread. He said the team wants to give fans something that truly advances the story while also saying something about the present day.

He also described the sequel as a commercial big film that they would love to bring to the screen. Plot details remain under wraps for now, and MovieWeb notes the movie probably won’t arrive for several years.

Pitt is producing through Plan B alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner, with Berger serving as an executive producer. Pitt is expected to return as Gerry Lane, the former United Nations investigator at the center of the first film.

The original also featured Mireille Enos, James Badge Dale, Peter Capaldi, Ruth Negga and Matthew Fox. No supporting cast has been announced for the sequel yet. The road to a second film was rocky. According to Screen Rant, the Fincher version was shelved over budget concerns and China’s ban on zombie movies, while MovieWeb points to financing, scheduling, and market concerns.

Brad Pitt is in a race to stop a global zombie pandemic and save humanity. World War Z is now on Netflix https://t.co/V6dLZZVIjP

— Netflix (@netflix) March 8, 2023

The first film earned a 67% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its zombie action and Pitt’s performance despite its departures from Brooks’ novel. Its box office success kept interest in a sequel alive for years, even as the project repeatedly stalled.

Berger’s involvement suggests a more ambitious approach to the franchise. After drawing acclaim for his war epic and papal thriller, he’s now taking on one of the biggest zombie properties in Hollywood.

His comparison to Nolan and Villeneuve signals that he sees potential for a large-scale event film, with the script as the deciding factor. Until Kelly’s draft comes together, fans will have to wait to see what shape the sequel takes.

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