‘World War Z’ Film Project Gets Another Writer

Paramount and Brad Pitt’s Plan B have been developing the rather terrific zombie novel by Max Books called World War Z into a film, and they’ve changed horses mid-stream. Brooks recently talked to Fangoria and announced that J. Michael Straczynski, the Changeling and Babylon 5 writer who had thrown together one adaptation, had been usurped.

According to Brooks, Matthew Carnahan, brother of Joe and co-writer of State of Play and writer of The Kingdom, has been hired to give World War Z a fresh set of eyes. He’s not exactly known for this kind of thing, so it would be interesting to compare the two scrips at some point.

The author seems pleased with the change, in large part because the costs keep mounting for the studio, so surely they’ve got to do something with the movie, right?

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Undead Movies Becoming A ‘Priority’ At Paramount

Paramount is thinking epic and apocalyptic these days. Over the last week, I met up with one industry insider who tipped me off about a pair of projects the studio is calling “priorities.” The first you already know about: World War Z by Quantum of Solace ’s Marc Forster and written by J. Michael Straczynski. Word is, production offices are set up and Forster is in early pre-production. Based on a novel by Max Brooks, it’s a detailed tale in which a researcher for the U.N. Postwar Commission interviews survivors from countries all over the world, 10 years after the crisis, to gather a first-person post-mortem on a zombie war that obliterated every country on the map.

The other project is one we haven’t heard about since MTV picked up the rights in 2005: An adaptation of Dark Horse Comics’ Damn Nation.

Here’s a synopsis from the publisher: Imagine a United States shut off from the world by concrete barricades and barbed wire-not because of what might get in, but what might get out. A vampire plague has spread from sea to shining sea and when a small holdout of scientists trapped outside of Buffalo, N.Y. discover a cure, it’s up to a Special Ops team from the President’s current offices in London to go in and get it. Yet, not everyone in the world wants to see America back in the saddle again…

Andrew Cosby penned the comic and, at the time the rights were picked up, writing the screenplay. Paramount owns distribution rights to Damn Nation and, according to my source, they’re pushing it to the top of their to-do list.

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World War Z Concept Art

Another zombie film has some concept art to check out. Meredith Woerner over at i09.com has posted the piece:

Artist Daniel LuVisi posted tryout concept art for the movie adaptation of the zombie saga World War Z. It’s a veritable Where’s Waldo of splattered zombie carnage, mutilated New Yorkers, and other hidden gems.

This gorgeously gory work created by the incredibly gifted concept artist and production designer LuVisi, was put together as a try-out to secure his role in Marc Forester’s World War Z. Titled “The Battle Of Yonkers,” the piece showcases how seriously LuVisi is taking his work. There are millions of details, from the camera crew to the red tape wrapped around one soldier’s piece (click to enlarge in the gallery).

According to the artist:

This is the image I did, to get on the film World War Z with Marc Forster, director of Quantum of Solace. Can’t say whats going on or what the outcome is right now, but it’s not in the negative zone

This was one of the most difficult images I’ve ever done. Incredibly challenging to the point where I wanted to quit. But through thick and thin I forced myself to complete it.

Source: io9.com

Max Brooks Stoked About Development Of Movie: WORLD WAR Z

Last week, zombie aficionado Max Brooks appeared on Fangoria Radio to talk about his upcoming graphic novel Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks as well as the upcoming World War Z movie. You may remember that it was reported that 007 director Marc Forster would be helming the long overdue project written by J. Michael Straczynski. Here’s what Brooks had to say about the team:

“I’m thrilled that the man who created BABYLON 5 is working on this movie. I can’t give it away, but Straczynski found a way to tie it all together. The last draft I read was amazing.”
“Now that we have a director, we have a captain of the ship. Marc will determine start date, cast, locations, etc. For me personally, I’m content to go off to Iceland and let them make their movie.”

We reviewed the screenplay for WWZ a while back, but it sounds like there may be a new draft floating around. Either way, Brooks is right- things are looking good on the WWZ front.

Source: QuietEarth.us Read more

Max Brooks Is Back With ‘The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks’

Yup, Brooks is back and this time in graphic novel form showing some of the ways people down through the ages have dealt with zombie hordes. And oddly, this is already up for pre-order and it won’t be available until June 2nd, 2009! You can purchase it here.

Man has battled the undead for millenia. In The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks bestselling author and “Studs Terkel of zombie journalism,” Max Brooks provides the lessons that history has taught us about zombie outbreaks. This is not a list of all zombie attacks throughout history, but a chronicling of the most famous outbreaks, gruesomely illustrated in graphic novel form.

From our descendants on the African savannahs to the legions of ancient Rome to the voyages of Francis Drake to the ill-advised experiments of the Soviet army, The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attack, takes the reader on a journey across many anni horribilis and hauntingly reminds us how close the living dead have come to destroying humanity.”

Teaser for Max Brooks Recorded Attacks from Quiet Earth on Vimeo.

Source: QuietEarth.us