If you were Brad Pitt and you were starring in and producing the unlikely sequel to unlikely success World War Z, who would you want to direct, if you could get anyone? For Pitt, the current top candidate is old pal David Fincher.
Fincher would seem, on the face of it, to be one of the least likeliest choices to get involved with both a franchise (especially after his experience making Alien 3) and one that has had the turmoil of the zombie thriller.
According to Variety, though, while he was initially skeptical, the talks between the two have moved on to a point where negotiations are starting, with no one else currently holding an offer to direct the film.
It would mark a reunion for a filmmaking team that has brought us the likes of Seven, Fight Club, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button and, nearly a new 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea before that one was torpedoed. Fincher has been away from big screen work since 2014's Gone Girl, but has been having a frustrating time getting TV series made at HBO and directed the pilot for Netflix's Mind Hunters.
Juan Antonio Bayona was previously attached, but he's been lured away by the chance to make the Jurassic World follow-up. Details about the Z-quel (yes, we know in the UK that makes it a zed-quel, but it's fun to say "zeequel") are largely unknown at this point, though Pitt will be back as Gerry Lane. He's hoping it can start shooting early next year, having already missed the chance to hit a June 9, 2017 release date, with the effects and shooting schedule likely to mean a 2018 date will be forthcoming, assuming it actually works out.