MOVIE NEWS – The most expensive zombie movie ever made could finally get its long-awaited sequel. It’s now a “priority” on par with Top Gun 3, Transformers, and Star Trek. Just days ago, a newly formed Paramount company emerged with plans to revive forgotten franchises like World War Z.

Yesterday, we discussed Warner Bros.’ outstanding box office performance this year after several difficult years filled with more flops than hits, especially in the superhero genre. Now, another legendary Hollywood studio, Paramount, is aiming for redemption. Following its merger with Skydance, the studio has a new leadership team determined to push the company into a fresh era of entertainment. That vision appears to include World War Z 2, Top Gun 3, and the revival of major franchises such as Transformers and Star Trek.

The company’s executives remained tight-lipped about most of their upcoming projects. Still, a few titles were mentioned—World War Z being one of the surprises for the press attending a recent event. It makes perfect sense, given that the original film was one of Paramount and Skydance’s most successful collaborations.

A $590 Million Hit Without a Sequel

Together, the two companies produced Brad Pitt’s highest-grossing film of all time (until the release of this year’s F1: The Movie), earning just over $590 million from a $190 million budget—though some sources estimate it at $269 million. The success was so great that work on a sequel began almost immediately, yet more than 12 years later, it still hasn’t materialized. This was despite bringing in directors like Juan Antonio Bayona and David Fincher, with the latter even likening his unmade version to The Last of Us.

Will Brad Pitt Return?

Scheduling conflicts and creative disagreements prevented all previous attempts from moving forward. But a new leadership team might finally clear the roadblocks. Now, the question is whether World War Z 2 will come to life. For Paramount Pictures, it’s currently as important as Top Gun 3 and the upcoming Transformers and Star Trek films. The sci-fi saga was also discussed at the event, though no major new details were revealed.

It’s worth noting that while World War Z was undeniably epic and entertaining, it had little in common with Max Brooks’ book beyond the apocalyptic setting. Brooks, the son of legendary comedian and filmmaker Mel Brooks, wrote a far more thoughtful, serious, and politically charged account of the topic, as Chema Mansilla explained in an excellent article for 3DJuegos a few weeks ago. Perhaps the sequel will provide an opportunity to return to the tone of the original work.

Source: 3djuegos