Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
David Fincher is known for directing some of the darkest thrillers in Hollywood. He has made films such asSeven, Zodiac, Fight Club, Panic Roometc. The director is known for his exploration of the dark side of the human psyche and has earned a trademark for making films that do a deep dive into criminals and serial killers.
Fincher was once confirmed to direct the sequel to actor Brad Pitt’s zombie action filmWorld War Z, and the film was well into pre-production before being canceled. In a recent interview, the filmmaker mentions the plans that he had for the sequel that was apparently used by the recent HBO seriesThe Last of Us.
Also read:“I thought that was the most amazing shot”: Harrison Ford’s Blade Runner Inspired David Fincher’s One of Most Terrifying Movies That Nearly Cast Scarlett Johansson
Why Was TheWorld War ZSequel Canceled?
TheBrad PittstarrerWorld War Zwas based on the novel of the same name by Max Brooks. While the film heavily deviated from the source material, it was a box-office success, earning over $540 million. The film was directed by Marc Forster, who mentioned that the makers were planning a trilogy.
After the success of the film, Paramount Pictures greenlit a sequel. The sequel was initially shelved due to the original’s production troubles and budgetary concerns, but the film’s success led to it being officially greenlit.Jurassic Worlddirector JA Bayona was initially tapped to direct the feature, but he ultimately dropped out after production delays.
Also read:Jake Gyllenhaal’s Hands Troubled ‘Zodiac’ Director David Fincher While Filming 2007 Classic Due To a Ridiculous Reason
Ace director David Fincher entered into negotiations to direct the film and was officially hired in 2017. The sequel would reunite him with actor Brad Pitt, with whom he had worked in the filmsFight Club, Seven,andThe Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The film was delayed yet again due to David Fincher’s commitment to Netflix’sMindhunter.
The film was officially canceled in 2019 despite months of pre-production. One of the primary reasons for the cancelation was cited to be the ban on zombie movies in China, which was Hollywood’s biggest overseas market. The news was reported by a source fromThe Hollywood Reporter.
Also read:“He was being nibbled to death by ducks”: $84M Robert Downey Jr Movie Nearly Ate Jake Gyllenhaal Alive, David Fincher Couldn’t Take it Anymore
David Fincher’s Ideas For The Sequel Was Seen InThe Last Of Us
Since the cancelation of the sequel,David Fincherhas worked on the second season ofMindhunter,the biopicMank, the showLove, Death & Robots, and is awaiting the release of his neo-noir black comedyThe Killer. The zombie film has also not died down as many films and series such asArmy of the Dead, The Dead Don’t Die, and the showThe Last of Ushave been acclaimed.
The HBO showThe Last of Uswas last year’s breakout show, based on the popular video game. The show depicts a pandemic that causes zombie-like symptoms in a person affected by a fungal infection and the resulting collapse in society. The show was critically acclaimed and has been nominated for Primetime Emmy Awards.
David Fincher, in a recent interview withGQ, mentioned that his ideas for theWorld War Zsequel were similar to what was done inThe Last of Us. He specifically mentioned the opening scene in the show which depicts the science behind the fungus on a day-time talk show. He said,
“Well, it was a little like The Last of Us. I’m glad that we didn’t do what we were doing because The Last of Us has a lot more real estate to explore the same stuff. In our title sequence, we were going to use the little parasite… they used it in their title sequence, and in that wonderful opening with the Dick Cavett, David Frost-style talk show.”
There has been no news regarding the future of theWorld War Zsequel, despite there being considerable interest in the genre after the series.
Also read:“I have betrayed you, you have the wrong guy”: Brad Pitt Asked ‘Fight Club’ Director to Fire Him, Gave Him a Fair Warning Before They Started Shooting
Nishanth A
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2415
Nishanth A is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 2,000 articles published. He has been an entertainment journalist for the past two years and a scriptwriter at various corporations before that, working on educational content. With a Communications, English Literature, and Psychology triple major, Nishanth usually covers news and analyses on Star Trek, particularly Strange New Worlds and The Next Generation; Doctor Who, the DCU, and more.A Nolan fan, Nishanth spends his time exploring the filmographies of various directors with an auteurial style or can be found making short movies of his own. He has also contributed as a feature writer for Film Companion, focusing on the South division.
