Despite 2013’s World War Z infamously being beset by production problems, which ranged from rewrites to reshoots, the Marc Forster directed film ended up grossing $540 million worldwide. As such, it’s no surprise that the franchise is getting the sequel treatment, with producer and star Brad Pitt set to return to the lead role.
Oscar-nominated screenwriter, Steven Knight had been tasked with scriptwriting duties, but now The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Dennis Kelly – creator and writer of British TV drama Utopia – has been enlisted to take a crack at the screenplay. Also included in the update is the confirmation that The Impossible's Juan Antonio Bayona is still attached to direct.
Reportedly, Universal’s courtship of Bayona to direct the sequel to Jurassic World – which currently stands as the third highest grossing film of all time – is what led to Kelly’s hire. Though contractual obligations meant he could not take that job, the interest “li[t] a flame under Paramount to keep Bayona happy”.
Production troubles notwithstanding, World War Z 2 will be released in UK cinemas on June 9th 2017.
