Film adaptation
After a bidding war with Leonardo DiCaprio's production company Appian Way, Brad Pitt's Plan B Entertainment secured the screen rights to the novel in 2007.[28] The screenplay was written by Babylon 5 and Rising Stars creator J. Michael Straczynski, who identified the challenge in adapting the work as "creating a main character out of a book that reads as a UN Report on the zombie wars".[29] Marc Forster signed on to direct, and described the film as reminiscent of 1970s conspiracy thrillers like All the President's Men.[30] Straczynski, however, identified 2002 spy film The Bourne Identity as an appropriate comparison, and noted that the film will have a large international scope which maintains the political emphasis.[31]
When asked about his involvement with the film, Brooks stated that he had "zero control", but favored a role for Brad Pitt,[1] and expressed approval for Straczynski as screenwriter.[32][33] In an interview with Fangoria, Brooks said, "I can’t give it away, but Straczynski found a way to tie it all together. The last draft I read was amazing."[34] Despite his lack of artistic control, Brooks did say that the movie "has to be epic ... and if it isn't the Lord of the Rings of zombie movies, I don't want to see it get made."[35]
An early script was leaked onto the internet in 2008. Ain't It Cool News reviewed the script on March 27, 2008, and said "This isn’t just a good adaptation of a difficult book ... it’s a genre-defining piece of work that could well see us all arguing about whether or not a zombie movie qualifies as 'Best Picture' material".[36] The review also noted the film appears stylistically similar to Children of Men.[36] According to Ain't It Cool News, the film follows Gerry Lane as he travels the post-war world and interviews survivors of the zombie war who are "starting to wonder if survival is a victory of any kind." One of the first interviews is with Dr. Tsai, the first to encounter the zombies.[36]
Straczynski had hoped that the film would begin production by the start of 2009.[31] Forster, however, told IGN on March 6, 2009 that the script was still in development and he was not sure if World War Z would be his next film.[37] On March 20, 2009, rumors surfaced that production offices were set up and the film was in early pre-production.[38] In June 2009, Marc Forster told an interviewer that the film would be delayed, stating that the film's script still needs a lot of development and is "still far from realization".[39]
In July 2009, Brooks revealed to Fangoria that the script is currently being re-written by Matthew Michael Carnahan. Brooks believes this "shows [the producer's] confidence in this project" because of the amount of money that was being invested in it.[40] Paramount Pictures also announced at Comic-Con that they are looking for a new director to replace Forster.[41] Forster recently returned as director, and Brad Pitt has been confirmed to play the lead role.[42]
Looks interesting. Maybe i'll check out the Audiobook which is read by a cast of peeps.
Audiobook
An abridged audiobook was published in 2007 by Random House, directed by John McElroy, produced by Dan Zitt, with sound editing by Charles De Montebello. The book is read by author Max Brooks, but includes many other actors taking on the roles of the many individual characters who are interviewed in the novel. Brooks, thanks to his first career doing voice-over work and cartoons, was able to recommend a large number of the cast members.[12]
[edit] Cast
* Max Brooks: Max Brooks
* Arthur Sinclair: Alan Alda
* Jurgen Warbrunn: Carl Reiner
* Philip Adler: Jürgen Prochnow
* Saladin Kader: Waleed Zuiater
* Joe Muhammad: Dean Edwards
* Jesika Hendricks: Michelle Kholos
* Ahmed Farahnakian: Maz Jobrani
* Todd Wainio: Mark Hamill
* T. Sean Collins: Henry Rollins
* David Allen Forbes and Paul Redeker/Xolelwa Azania: Eamonn Walker
* Ajay Shah: Ajay Naidu
* Serosha Garcia Alvarez: John Turturro
* "The Whacko": Rob Reiner
* Bob Archer: Jay O. Sanders (credited as "Jay O'Sanders")
* General Travis D'Ambrosia: Dennis Boutsikaris
* Christina Eliopolis: Becky Ann Baker
* Kwang Jingshu: Steve Park
* Nury Televadi and Tomonaga Jiro: Frank Kamai
* Ernesto Olguin: John McElroy[23]
It's got Alan Alda in it! ..and of course, Mark Hamill who seems to be in any project that involves voice-overs.
