Having read the book, I’m pretty psyched for a WORLD WAR Z movie. In fact, I actually think it could be better than the book, which for me was a well-written but cold and analytical examination of a zombie epidemic. It absolutely had the right idea, but it failed to connect. The prospect of a serious, dramatic zombie epic does thrill me, however, and I’ve been impatiently twiddling my thumbs as months have gone past without much in the way of news regarding the film.
Some good news on that front comes from author Max Brooks himself, who spoke with FEARnet about where the film version stands. It’s not overwhelmingly positive, but it signifies the project is still alive.. and shambling.
“Paramount just renewed the option for World War Z, for half the time and twice the money, so that might signal interest. We still got our director, Marc Forster, who’s raring to go. Were all waiting on Matt Carnahan’s new draft, which should come in a month or so. Once that comes in then I think it probably will have to be tweaked and brought to the studio but we’re sort of zeroing in on that moment where Paramount has to say yes or no.”
Matthew Michael Carnahan (THE KINGDOM) took to rewriting J. Michael Straczynski’s screenplay last summer. While there were rumors of Marc Forster’s (QUANTUM OF SOLACE) departure, Brooks obviously has heard otherwise.
Referring to just why the film has maybe had a problem getting going, Brooks mentions the budget and scope of the project as a possible culprit. “… I think the size of the book, the scope of the book, makes it hard to produce, in that this thing’s gotta be done right or it just can’t be done. You can’t do a cheap and dirty World War Z. It’s a world war, and I think that makes studio executives nervous. I think it limits its options, so that’s running against it.”
Let’s hope someone figures this sucker out, and fast! For the rest of the interview with Brooks, head on over to FEARnet.
Forster’s Quantum of Solace star Olga Kureylenko
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed