Brad Pitt has been the star of all kinds of beloved movies and franchises, and after another box office success, one of his most requested sequels could finally happen. Pitt’s best movies include Fight Club, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Inglourious Basterds, and while many have done well, none previously could match the high of World War Z.

He headlined one of the biggest zombie movies of the 2010s, with the 2013 film raking in $540 million at the box office. Upon its release, the film became the highest-grossing movie of Pitt’s career, leaving fans clamoring for a sequel. Paramount originally envisioned the franchise as a trilogy, and after the success of the first movie, a sequel was slated for June 9, 2017.

However, this never happened. J.A. Bayona was chosen to direct the sequel, but he exited in early 2016. The film was delayed, with Paramount announcing on February 8, 2017, that the film wouldn’t start production until 2018 or 2019. David Fincher signed on to direct the sequel, but his commitments to Mindhunter led to further delays, until the film was finally canceled in February 2019.

That’s left the franchise in limbo for six years with no clear movement on another installment, with or without the box office star. It’s no coincidence that Paramount is now starting to prioritize a return to World War Z.

F1’s Success Suggests A World War Z Sequel With Brad Pitt Could Still Be Huge

Pitt is currently riding high thanks to 2025’s F1 making $575.6 million at the box office as of the writing of this article. It has surpᴀssed World War Z as the highest-grossing film of his career and become a reminder that the actor is still a major draw for blockbuster movies. Future films could bank on this success to make even more money.

Of all the potential projects that could build on F1‘s momentum, World War Z 2 might be the best choice. The film is already attached to a major franchise that has built a fanbase since starting in 2013, and bringing back the zombie series in the wake of recent successes like The Last of Us could make the sequel even bigger than its predecessor.

Luckily, Paramount may have already realized this. Following Paramount’s recent sale to Skydance, the studio’s new co-film chief, Josh Greenstein, listed World War Z as a priority franchise in the same breath as Star Trek and Transformers (via THR).

This is shocking news for an IP that has been dormant for over 10 years, but it confirms Paramount’s interest in revitalizing the series. Although nothing has been officially announced, this comment suggests a World War Z sequel is more likely than ever to happen.

While a reboot or spinoff is possible, Pitt’s star factor makes a proper sequel an obvious choice, especially after years of hype surrounding the canceled version. Based on the success of F1, now is the perfect time for Brad Pitt to return for World War Z 2.