World War Z sequel: Brad Pitt returns and Edward Berger directs, according to reports
In brief
- Paramount is reportedly developing a World War Z sequel, with Brad Pitt returning, Edward Berger directing, and Dennis Kelly writing the script.
Brad Pitt is said to be returning for the follow-up to the 2013 zombie film, while Edward Berger is reportedly set to direct.
Dennis Kelly is writing the script. An official title, release date, plot, and full cast have not yet been announced.
What happened
IGN reported, based on Deadline, that a new World War Z film is in development at Paramount. The same report says Brad Pitt is returning for the sequel, linking the star of the 2013 film to the project once again.
Edward Berger, known for Conclave, is said to be directing the film. According to the report, Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, and Jeremy Kleiner are producing through Plan B Entertainment, while Berger is also listed as an executive producer. That ties several names from the original creative and producing circle to the project, although the information provided still comes from reporting rather than a separate studio announcement.
The source also says Dennis Kelly is writing the script. Paramount has not shared its own press release or any additional details about the story, cast, or release date in the information provided. No official title has been named for the sequel either, so the project is currently being discussed under the working label World War Z sequel.
The reporting also makes clear that this is still an early development-stage project. There are no concrete plot points, no release date, and no full cast list yet. The available information does mention Pitt, Berger, Gardner, Kleiner, and Kelly, but it does not confirm that all contracts or creative agreements have been publicly finalized by Paramount.
Timeline
2013: World War Z hits theaters with Brad Pitt in the lead role and becomes a major studio film based on Max Brooks’ novel.
April, year not specified in the provided text: the sequel is reportedly mentioned for the first time, but without a clear calendar year.
September 18, 2026: IGN publishes the report linking Brad Pitt, Edward Berger, and Dennis Kelly to the project, citing Deadline.
Current status: no official details on title, plot, release date, or full cast have been released.
Background
World War Z is based on Max Brooks’ novel and became a major studio release in 2013 with Brad Pitt as the lead. The film was released as a large-scale zombie movie and is the basis for the current sequel reporting.
The new sequel is described in the reporting as an active Paramount project. However, the reported involvement of Pitt, Berger, and Kelly has not yet been confirmed by an official studio statement in the information provided. That makes the difference between a reported development and a publicly confirmed production track important.
According to the provided text, the project is not far enough along to name a release date. There is no information about a shoot date, no synopsis, and no list of additional cast members. As a result, the sequel remains more of a development story than a film with fixed marketing or distribution details.
One additional uncertainty is the timing in the source. The text says the sequel was announced in April of “this year,” but the provided publication date is September 18, 2026. Without extra context, it is not possible to determine which calendar year that wording refers to. That leaves part of the source chronology ambiguous.
The available information therefore mainly shows Paramount reportedly returning to World War Z with a mix of returning and new names. Until there is official confirmation from the studio, the reported involvement of Brad Pitt, Edward Berger, and Dennis Kelly, along with the broader production plans, remains dependent on the cited sources.
Sources
IGN, citing Deadline, on the development of the World War Z sequel at Paramount.