Director David Fincher is reportedly close to signing on to helm World War Z 2.
In February (17) it was announced that the follow-up to Brad Pitt’s 2013 zombie film was being pulled from the 2017 release calendar after production suffered a setback following the departure of filmmaker J.A. Bayona, who left to direct the fifth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise.
Rumors swirled that Pitt’s long-time collaborator Fincher was being eyed up to take over directing duties, but there was never an official confirmation.
Now industry insiders tell Variety that the deal with Fincher is pretty much done, thanks to Paramount Pictures’ new CEO Jim Gianopulos.
The film would mark Pitt and Fincher’s fourth movie together, after Se7en, Fight Club, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, the last of which saw the star nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.
Variety adds that production will hopefully begin in the first quarter of 2018.
Meanwhile, Marc Forster, who directed the first World War Z film, is busy working on the latest Disney live-action remake, Christopher Robin. The film will follow the story of honey loving bear Winnie the Pooh, and unlike recent remakes such as Beauty and the Beast and The Jungle Book, the feature will focus on a grown-up Christopher, Pooh’s best friend, who has lost his sense of imagination since becoming an ambitious businessman.
It was reported on Wednesday (26Apr17) that Ewan McGregor is in talks to play Christopher. The Scottish actor is no stranger to Disney, recently laying down his vocals for Beauty and the Beast, playing lovable candelabra Lumiere.
Fellow Disney alumnus Brigham Taylor, who worked on The Jungle Book, is producing the movie with Hidden Figures writer Allison Schroeder penning the script.
