World War Z 2, Top Gun 3 and Star Trek: The Future at Paramount
A "World War Z" sequel seemed like a dead project—until now
The zombie horror film "World War Z" was released on cinema screens over 10 years ago. Due to the success of the film, there was always talk of a sequel, but it was never made. This is set to change in the future. As the management of Paramount Skydance revealed at a press event, "World War Z 2" is a priority, along with "Top Gun 3" and other projects.
Currently, no further details were given. It also remains unclear whether Brad Pitt will take on the lead role again. It can be assumed that "World War Z 2" is still at an early stage of development. However, the Paramount bosses around CEO David Ellison have also named other franchises that would enjoy a high priority.
The "Star Trek" universe
This also includes "Star Trek". A feature film was last released in 2016 with "Star Trek: Beyond". Since then, the franchise has only been extremely active in series form. Currently, for example, the "Strange New Worlds" is popular among fans. We can also expect "Star Trek: Starfleet Academy" soon. So far, however, the series have run independently of the film productions – which could change in the future. The idea is to plan more together behind the scenes instead of keeping the film and series areas separate.
At the moment, specific film projects have not yet been officially announced. It can be strongly assumed that upcoming "Star Trek" films will also be shown in cinemas and will not end up directly at Paramount+. In the film sector, Paramount clearly wants to focus on theatrical releases. Paramount+ boss Cindy Holland stated that "streaming movies are not a priority".
Top Gun 3
However, "Top Gun 3" is of course a high priority. This was emphasized once again at the event. David Ellison even stated that he would shoot films with Tom Cruise for as long as the superstar wanted. Screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie recently revealed that the story for the sequel had already been decided.
In addition to the aforementioned franchise titles, "Transformers" and "A Quiet Place" also have priority. And independent films outside of the major film series are also important for Paramount Skydance. Overall, the company hopes to release around 15 films per year, which should increase to 20 in the future.
"World War Z": A modern zombie thriller with global dimensions
The film "World War Z" was released in 2013 under the direction of Marc Forster and is a suspenseful action horror film. With Brad Pitt in the lead role, a high production budget and a global storyline, the film reached a large audience and is still a popular entry in the zombie genre today. But what exactly makes "World War Z" so special?
Global dimension – the zombie outbreak as a worldwide crisis
In contrast to many zombie films, which often focus on a specific area or group of survivors, "World War Z" tells a story with a global scope. The protagonist Gerry Lane, a former UN employee, travels from the USA to South Korea, Israel and Wales to get to the bottom of the cause of the zombie pandemic. This international perspective gives the film a realistic feel. Viewers get the impression that this really is a global catastrophe – which makes the threat seem all the more intense.
Realism meets horror
Another central feature of "World War Z" is the depiction of state reactions to the outbreak: quarantines, military operations, political desperation. This creates a disturbingly realistic picture of a world in a state of emergency.
The zombies themselves are unusual for the genre: fast, aggressive and able to move in mass waves. This depiction is a stark contrast to the traditional idea of slow, shuffling undead and adds a new level of tension. Particularly infamous is the scene in which the zombies scale a huge wall in Israel – a visually stunning moment that lingers in the memory.
Brad Pitt as an anchor figure
The character Gerry Lane, played by Brad Pitt, gives the film a human perspective. As a family man, his motivation is always clear: he wants to protect his family. Pitt plays the role with restraint and seriousness, which gives the film additional credibility. This keeps the plot grounded, even if the action is spectacular and action-packed at times.
Production and atmosphere
With a budget of around 190 million US dollars, "World War Z" is a blockbuster that is visually impressive. The dense atmosphere, supported by strong camera work and the soundtrack by Marco Beltrami, ensures constant tension.
"World War Z" combines action, horror and thriller elements with a realistic disaster scenario and brings a breath of fresh air to the often formulaic genre. Its global focus, the absence of excessive splatter elements and the main character in particular make the film popular with a wide audience – both genre fans and viewers who otherwise have little interest in zombie themes.
