‘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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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

J. Michael Straczynski Talks About ‘World War Z’

When “Quantum of Solace” director Marc Forster was chosen to helm the adaptation of Max Brooks’ “World War Z” zombie-stravaganza, we noted that it was a surprising pairing — but with noted television, movie and comics author J. Michael Straczynski already penning the screenplay and Brad Pitt’s Plan B producing, the project was certainly developing some heat. Now, with “Solace” in its fifth impressive week at the box office, MTV News spoke to Straczynski about the addition of Forster to the already buzzworthy project and how he plans to adapt Brooks’ novel.

“We talk about it as a thriller, the closest comparison being ‘The Bourne Identity,’” explained Straczynski, who’s also penning a “Forbidden Planet” revisiting. “Most zombie movies to this point have been small, focusing on a few people in a house. And this has got real scare. You’re in India with hundreds of boats trying to get out of there with a tidal wave of zombies. The scale of what we’re doing here is phenomenal.”

Straczynski told us the first draft of the screenplay was completed in the Spring, and the “World War Z” team had been waiting for a director for several months before Forster was attached.

“Now that Marc is here, I’m working with his notes to make one final pass on the script,” said Straczynski. “Our hope is to get it moving into production by the first of the year.” Read more