Max Brooks, author of World War Z, says film and his novel share title only

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

If you're a fan of Max Brooks' novel WORLD WAR Z and are excited about this summers mega-budgeted Brad Pitt-starring film of the same title that is supposedly based on Brooks' work, the author has some bad news for you.

During a recent interview at Mansfield University, WORLD WAR Z author Brooks was asked about his novel's adaptation to the big screen and the fact that what we've seen from the film so far via teasers, trailers and clips bears no resemblance to the bestselling novel. Brooks said he expects the film will have the same title "and that's it."

But Brooks doesn't seem to be sour grapes about it. As the son of legendary writer/director/comedian Mel Brooks and Oscar-winning actress Anne Bancroft, he understands how Hollywood works. Rewrites are the norm, especially when dealing with a film as epic in scope as WORLD WAR Z, complete with huge A-list names, worldwide locations, tons of special effects, and a budget that seemingly ballooned out of control.

Brooks says of the screenplay…

"I knew they were going to rewrite it. I grew up in Hollywood. I knew it was going to go through a million changes."

WORLD WAR Z has undergone rather extensive rewrites and reshoots on its way to next months release, which could have brought it closer to or further away from the source material. Brooks stated that he was invited to read the script, but declined.

"I said: Why would I read this? This is not the movie you're going to make.You're going to do rewrites and reshoots. That's what happens when you make a giant movie.

"My attitude is if you haven't invited me in to contribute, then fine. Go make the movie you want to make and I'll see it when it comes out."

Brooks said his main concern as the release of the movie looms isn't how he'll feel about it, but how the book's fans will react when they find that some of their favorite moments have been drastically altered or simply removed. His advice: treat the book and the movie as two different things.

"I cannot guarantee that the movie will be the book that they love. And I'm in no position to tell people to see this movie or not see it. If I'm asked I say: See the movie as a movie and judge it as a movie."

Fans of the novel will be able to see if they did the book justice when WORLD WAR Z hits theaters on June 21.