After an impressive $111.8 million worldwide debut this weekend, Paramount is moving ahead with a sequel to their zombie flick World War Z. Vice Chairman of the studio, Rob Moore, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter earlier today.
If you recall, the film was actually set to be the first in a trilogy, but when the production ran into trouble and word of mouth turned quite negative, those plans were scrapped. Many were expecting the Brad Pitt-starring flick to bomb but instead, it opened strong and actually earned a few decent reviews. It currently sits at a 67% on Rotten Tomatoes and is currently the biggest debut of Pitt’s career, an impressive feat no doubt.
“The great thing about this process was that it showed what a great partner and producer Brad is,” says Moore. “He made a true commitment. I think the movie captured the public’s imagination with something that is fresh and different. And certainly, Brad gave a superb performance.”
I haven’t seen the film yet and after reading our very own Matt Donato’s review, I’m not in any rush to check it out. Admittedly, I think it looks alright and Pitt is usually pretty dependable but given what I’ve read here on WGTC and based on what I’m hearing from friends and colleagues, my excitement just isn’t too high for this one.
As for the sequel, well, I won’t say I’m totally opposed to it. World War Z is doing alright for itself and I would imagine that Paramount has learnt from the mistakes that they made with this first effort. If they can right their wrongs, and deliver a stronger film, then the World War Z franchise may stand a chance at becoming a true success. The source material is certainly there, all they have to do is get it right this time.
What do you think? Do you want to see a World War Z sequel?