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| Iron Man | 10/10 |
World War Z Movie Details Revealed - Children of Men With Zombies?
March 27, 2008
Source: AICN
by Alex Billington
One day prior to the exact day last year that we first announced Max Brooks' World War Z was being adapted, we finally hear some details on how the movie will play out. I remember first writing the news and becoming immediately excited despite having not actually read the book. And over the last year I've run into countless people who keeping telling me how great the book is. The script was written by comic book author J. Michael Straczynski, who most recently wrote Clint Eastwood's Changeling and was one of the creators of "Babylon 5". AICN just got their hands on the finished script and have reported back with a very positive reaction.
Moriarty's enthusiasm for Straczynski's script is through the roof. "I love this script. Love every dark, somber, upsetting page of it. This is a horror epic, a serious, sober-minded adult picture waiting to be made, and it's one of the best pieces of screenwriting craft I've encountered in a while." Before we get into the meat of the movie, though, let's take a look at the book again so we're clear on what it actually contains. "The book is an oral history of the great zombie wars, compiled by a nameless editor as part of a government report."
Ten years after the human victory over the world wide Zombie epidemic, referred to as World War Z, Max Brooks scours the world collecting the stories and experiences of those who have survived the conflict that almost eradicated humanity.
It is in essence just oral recollections from survivors of World War Z. This is not your typical zombie book and this won't be your typical zombie movie. Moriarty goes as far as to call the movie potentially "a genre-defining piece of work" that could even get people "arguing about whether or not a zombie movie qualifies as Best Picture material." Wow, that's quite a powerful statement, but then again, we don't even know what to expect yet. It's time to get into the details.
"In the first five pages, we see GERRY LANE collecting stories, and the first two interviews are with a flight attendant and a border guard. Both manage to play as horror shock beats, but the way they're told also sets the tone right away… JMS is after the human truth underneath the horror, and in a way, that makes it much, much harder to take."
From what I can interpret, the movie follows this particular archiver / journalist, named Gerry Lane (who might be played Brad Pitt), around as he travels the world conducting interviews with survivors. Again, from what I can interpret, it's almost like a documentary, but set in a post-zombie-apocalyptic world with much more to it than just talking heads.
"The world of the film reminds me of CHILDREN OF MEN on the page. Realistic but set in the near-future, in the aftermath of the zombie wars. We see a flashback to Gerry being given his assignment to write a report about 'where the system worked, where it didn't, how and in what ways the various organizational infrastructures failed.' It's a politically shitty job because no one wants to know that they were responsible for anything that went wrong. Gerry's hesitant because it's going to take at least six months away from his family, just as the world is starting to right itself. He takes the job, and as he travels to his first interview, we see how hard travel has become. I hate going through airport security these days, but at least I don't have to strip naked and subject myself to a blood test. Yet."
Moriarty goes on to describe Gerry's first interview with Dr. Tsai in China. In addition, he praises Straczynski for doing "a great job of etching the details of a world that has already faced its darkest moments and is now trying to put things back in order." What it sounds like the movie is really becoming is one that, while recalling some of the horrific moments from World War Z, instead focuses on the post-apocalyptic world that the survivors now all live in.
"Tsai's account of his first encounter with zombies at New Dachang is awful and horrific, and right away, it's apparent that a combination of bureaucracy and military strategy is responsible for a sort of passive evil, and Tsai feels enormous guilt about it. He leads Gerry to his next interview, which leads him to his next, and one of the things that the script does so well is depict survivors who are starting to wonder if survival is a victory of any kind. There's a story about black market organs that is just brutal, an off-the-record conversation with a CIA friend, and an insane beach sequence that I can't wait to see on film. All in the first 50 pages."
My next question, which Moriarty doesn't seem to answer, is whether each of these interviews turns into a flashback that is depicted on screen. Or whether we just get the talking head plus some sort of other dynamic imagery. I'm guessing, considering this was described as "epic", that each of the stories we hear will indeed be shown. As in, a post-World War Z narrative that is weaved with stories from the past that, if directed correctly, could be fashioned into an incredibly fulfilling look at the world before, during, and after World War Z.
While Moriarty does mention that this was a draft dated April 2007, it did feel complete enough to go into production right away. So, as always, don't take anything you read in here as solid fact, but rather a report from someone who read a draft of a script that was over 11 months old. The key point here is that the direction the movie seems to be heading is absolutely brilliant. I wish I could have read the script myself, but for now we'll have to go on Moriarty's word.
We haven't heard any updates recently, but the film isn't in production and is still looking for a director. Hopefully someone as amazing as Children of Men's Alfonso Cuarón takes on this project - because it couldn't succeed without them.
Does this sound like J. Michael Straczynski has pulled off a brilliant script for a challenging adaptation? Or is this taking it too far for something as mundane as a zombie movie?
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Reader Feedback - 26 Comments »
1
I'm there opening night.
Brad Pitt possibly? Sign me up. EPIC indeed.
Chem1st on Mar 27, 2008
2
ZOMBIES rock!… I'm getting this book today.
Huck Paletos on Mar 27, 2008
3
The book was incredible and I hope the movie does it justice!
Kendall Morales on Mar 27, 2008
4
Soundz Awezome.
Djo on Mar 27, 2008
5
I've got the book and have been meaning to read it when I get a chance. My brother has read the same authors Zombie Survival guide which was refreshingly devoid of any tongue in cheek. I'm hoping that this book, and maybe film, will be the same.
Just a note to the OP. Babylon 5 was J Michael Strazi?????? baby. Rather than being a contributing writer, it was his opus.
Payne by name on Mar 27, 2008
6
I love zombie movies so I hope this is cool, but you guys are getting way too excited about this so-so book. The book lost me when one character describes how the American people didn't react to the zombie threat right away because they were still so upset about Iraq.
In other words flesh eating zombies are wandering the streets but people are saying, "Sorry, I can't be bothered with that. Not until we get this Iraq thing figured out."
Kelly Parks on Mar 27, 2008
7
The book is fantastic and is told by the people thru flashbacks. So i hope the movie does it well.
So of the stories are just so amazing and terrible i cant wait to see it.
Alex i will lend you my copy if you want to read it.
Heckle on Mar 27, 2008
8
Sweet. I hope they have the blind Japanese man/teenage geek story in the movie. That was probably my favorite chapter.
Anonymous on Mar 27, 2008
9
"The script was written by comic book author J. Michael Straczynski, who most recently wrote Eastwood's The Changeling and is a regular contributing writer on 'Babylon 5'"
Contributing writer?
What?
The guy created the series and wrote 91 of the 110 episodes (plus 5 movies, various tie-in comics and books, and more). And he's not just some comic writer, he's a Hugo award winning veteran of television writing going back to the early 1980s. And his comics are some of the most well regarded and best-selling (and occasionally controversial) in the industry.
For the record.
Mr. G on Mar 27, 2008
10
This could be one of the best movies of all time, or one of the worst. Even as I was reading the book I was thinking that it would make a tremendous movie, as long as they do it right.
Mike Rodi on Mar 27, 2008
11
Contributing writer????
I'm rolling in my grave from that comment and I'm not even dead yet … though that comment may just kill me …
That's like saying Mozart "dabbled a bit in musical genre" before he died.
Come on, Alex. Shame on you.
E on Mar 27, 2008
12
To Mr G : precisely 
To Mike: "as long as they do it right" … this is JMS we're talking about. No wrong could ever be done by his pen. It's morons who try to screw with his work that make things wrong. It's the money whores that make things wrong.
E on Mar 27, 2008
13
It is actually just Changeling, no The on the front end of it — The Changeling is a whole other movie coming out
Moviequill on Mar 27, 2008
14
15
it sounds like it could be amazing if directed right and not just thrown together, get some good actors (brad pitt awesome choice) and some epic scenes and this could be the best zombie movie. Kick ass name to World War Z!
Curtis on Mar 27, 2008
16
Brad Pitt is one of my least favorite actors. This is one of my favorite zombie stories. Please don't let him ruin it. It will not be a best picture film with him. Just saw Babel he just doesn't seem real in the movies I've seen him in. The basic idea of the script sounds right. I've had zombie dreams since I was 14. The theme deserves an epic.
Jon on Mar 27, 2008
17
Sounds like an interesting new way to portray A HORRIBLE IDEA.
Zombies suck. Period. If it were some other more believable and less laughable disaster, sign me up.
Anon on Mar 27, 2008
18
"…was one of the creators of 'Babylon 5'"
Don't need to harp on a minor point, but in case it isn't clear, he is the sole creator.
"I meant contributing as in currently, since he's not there still fulltime, right?"
Did you follow the IMDb link you posted? Babylon 5 ended in 1998. There have been several television movies since then, including a direct-to-DVD film from last year that he wrote, produced, *and* directed. So, there is no there there to be fulltime, but when there is, its all his, lock, stock, and barrel. There is no Babylon 5 anything without J. Michael Straczynski.
Mr. G on Mar 27, 2008
19
I enjoyed the audiobook version of World War Z way more than the book itself.
The film just will not do the audiobook experience justice.
Duncan on Mar 28, 2008
20
The audiobook is undoubtedly the perfect way to experience Straczynski's stories. The acting is fantastic and really lends a much more genuine quality to the characters - mostly down to the accents - than the book alone. If anyone is thinking of picking this up, get the audiobook! It's worth it for Mark Hamill alone.
Ross on Mar 29, 2008
21
Ever since Babylon 5, I have been waiting for JMS to do another amazing thing, this looks to be it!
Callista Maris on Mar 29, 2008
22
This is the best apocalypic book I have ever read in my life. The failure of human systems & the betrayal by those in authority is horrific. A must read.
Keith on Mar 30, 2008
23
Straczynski is the loser who ruined spider-man. And he even managed to do that BEFORE this one more day crap.
Thundermatts on Mar 30, 2008
24
So-so book?
Man, honestly… Dead City is the only zombie novel that rivals WWZ. It's important to note, also, that the reason Americans weren't as affected as other people is that the media helped to gloss everythign over, as well as the addition of a "miracle drug" that let people feel like it would be just a passing scientific study. More importantly, as an American I can confidently say that at least 1/4 of our population are retards, and honestly would turn a blind eye to everything.
Anyway- can't wait for the movie. I have Straczynski as a writer, but maybe he'll surprise me here. The addition of Brad Pitt here doesn't give me much more hope; he's had a few good movies (notably Snatch) but I feel they could have gotten a much better lead. But hey, he got the rights for it lol.
Too bad they didn't see how Will Smith did in I Am Legend, he'd be a great lead for this film, I think.
Matt on Apr 5, 2008
25
I liked the books too; not sure what I make of Brad Pitt being cast in the upcoming film, which suggests to me a re-write is a likelihood to support his inevitably bigger role. I like Pitt, and he's made some great films, but Brooks' novel had the potential to be the first Oscar-winning zombie flick (what? It *could* happen!) and while Pitt is a strong indicator of a quality film, his presence might mean a bit of a shake-up in the foundations that make the original text work. We'll have to wait and see.
Sheamus on Apr 6, 2008
26
Brad Pitt wont be in this, but his production company does own the rights and it's them who are driving it to the screen.
Nick on Apr 11, 2008