Paramount and Plan B are gearing up to start filming for WORLD WAR Z this summer, however they'll have to find a new director for the project first, as Deadline is reporting that J.A. Bayona (THE IMPOSSIBLE, THE ORPHANAGE) has exited the sequel due to scheduling conflicts.
The studio wants the film to head into production in time for its planned 2017 release, but Bayona is currently doing post-production work on his latest directorial effort A MONSTER CALLS, and doesn't believe he'll be able to finish his commitments on that movie before this summer. In a statement, Paramount confirmed to the site that Bayona has left the film, saying “Bayona is no longer able to make World War Z 2 this year, and it is our ambition to do so. He is a wonderful director and we hope to work with him soon.”
Brad Pitt is set to reprise his role from the first movie, and whoever is hired to take over for Bayona will be directing from a script by Dennis Kelly and Steven Knight . Who would you like to see helm WORLD WAR Z 2?
WORLD WAR Z 2 is scheduled to open on June 9, 2017.