◄ World War Z (2013)
Trivia
In a high-six-figure deal, Paramount Pictures acquired screen rights to the Max Brooks novel "World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War." Brooks' follow-up to satire "The Zombie Survival Guide" sparked a bidding battle, with Warner Bros. and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way on the other side of the table from Paramount and Brad Pitt's Plan B.
Share this
Ed Harris and Bryan Cranston were originally cast in the movie, but both dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
Share this
Filming took place in several areas of the UK including Cornwall, England where the UN control room scene was filmed alongside scenes on the Ministry of Defence Primary Casualty Receiving Facility (PCRF), RFA Argus (AS on the flight-deck). Filming also took place in Glasgow, Scotland with the streets made to look like those in Philadelphia with many American cars, trucks, taxis and street signage shipped in from the USA. Also filming took place in Valletta, Malta.
Share this
A total of 85 machine guns, rifles and pistols to be used on filming scenes in Hungary were confiscated by counter-terrorism customs officers in Budapest, Hungary after being flown in from London. The props, which are owned by an English company, were to be used in filming. The Hungarian authorities said the guns could be activated by simply removing screws filling the end of the barrels. Hungarian law requires weapons to be deactivated only if the process of making them live is irreversible. Weapons supervisor, Bela Gajdos, on the movie commented that a permit for the weapons had been issued by Hungarian police. Reports claimed that main actor Brad Pitt was "furious" at the seizure but producers have said it has not delayed filming.
Share this
In the beginning of the trailer released in March 2013 while Brad Pitt's family is having breakfast the radio in the background mentions a flight which landed without permission before martial law is declared in Russia. This is likely the infamous (in zombie lore) Flight 575 which, after landing, disgorged its passengers which had all been turned.
Share this
The original cinematographer was Robert Richardson. He left the film near the end of principal photography to begin working on Django Unchained, so shooting was completed by Newton Thomas Sigel. Reshoots were shot by Ben Seresin. Richardson, who received sole credit in early promotional material, later had his name removed from the film, reportedly because it was converted to 3-D against his wishes, and Seresin was given sole credit instead.
Share this
Damon Lindelof and Drew Goddard rewrote the screenplay in the middle of the production to create a whole new different third act.
Share this
Matthew Fox had a bigger role in the film. He was a supporting character who in the end would be set up as a (human) villain for the sequel. Due to the constant re-writes and editing, his role in the final cut was reduced down to only 5 lines of dialogue.
Share this
Originally the film had a different ending. In it, the plane lands in Moscow rather then crash. The passengers are rounded up with the elderly and sick are executed. Gerry is drafted into the Russian army. Some time passes (unknown but its now winter) and Gerry is fighting the zombies. He realizes the zombies are weak in the cold (as in the book). The film ends with him getting back to the us and leading a D-Day like invasion against the undead on the Oregeon coast. Some believe this was cut and filmed a new ending to make the movie less brutal with a glimpse of hooe
Share this
A storyline that was deleted featured Gerry's wife having an affair with the para jumper from the helicopter from the rescue scene earlier in the film.
Share this
