Chris here. Looks like the sequel to 2013 surprise megahit (and famously troubled production) World War Z is finally a go - and just landed some major directorial heft. After many rumors of star Brad Pitt's wooing the director were shrugged off, David Fincher is signing on to the film.
Already some Fincher fans and stuffy types are turning up their noses at the news, but it is a potentially inspired choice...
At the time, World War Z surprised everyone by not being a complete mess given its entirely reshot third act and long delays. The film actually holds up as a solid entertainment now that we've forgotten its behind the scenes drama. It's not like Fincher is slumming with a lesser franchise here, as the relationship to Max Brooks's novel was tangential to begin with. Without a preexisting blueprint, Fincher could take the material in any direction he pleases and shouldn't that be exciting for fans? Does anyone really think that a perfectionist like Fincher would sign on to this without being able to put his own stamp on it?
After the production of his HBO adaptation Utopia fell apart mid-production recently, you can see why Fincher would also want to bank on a sure thing (though he also has Netflix's Mindhunter coming this year). In fact, it wouldn't be surprising if whatever he has planned for after this sequel would also be wrapped up in this deal. There's also something exciting about David Fincher returning to a big spectacle and his biggest star collaborator after several intense character dramas. Conversely, his kind of intimacy is also what could make World War Z 2 really sing.
Regardless, after it's become the norm to give franchise reins to newer indie filmmakers, maybe it's time to turn the tentpoles back to the masters like Fincher. What do you think of Fincher joining World War Z 2?