Whilst Warhammer 40,000: House Marine 2 has helped push developer Saber Interactive to every other stage, it already had a monster hit beneath its belt: Global Warfare Z.
Global Warfare Z is a co-op third-person shooter advanced and revealed by way of Saber in 2019 as a loosely based totally adaptation of the 2006 novel Global Warfare Z, and set in the similar universe because the 2013 Brad Pitt blockbuster.
Saber used its Swarm Engine to render massive hordes of zombies in Global Warfare Z, and once more however with Tyranids in remaining yr’s House Marine 2. The generation is getting used as soon as once more for Saber’s 2026 free up, John Wood worker’s Poisonous Commando.
In an interview with IGN at gamescom 2025, Saber building leader Tim Willits stated 30 million folks had performed Global Warfare Z since release, which is a outstanding milestone for any sport. However, he thinks its reputation would possibly have influenced some selections made in Hollywood, too.
Ultimate month, The Hollywood Reporter stated Paramount had 3 franchises it deliberate to prioritize when it got here to motion pictures: Best Gun 3, Big name Trek, and Global Warfare Z. Global Warfare Z was once the largest wonder right here, given it’s been over a decade for the reason that film got here out. So why is Paramount considering creating a follow-up?
Input Saber’s Global Warfare Z. Willits stated it was once his feeling (he hasn’t been instructed that is the case in an reliable capability) that the long-lasting good fortune of the Global Warfare Z online game over the past six years has at once contributed to Paramount’s want to restore the franchise in film phrases.
“30 million folks have performed that sport. Is not that loopy? 30 million distinctive folks,” Willits started. “They have got no longer instructed me this — I’m going to more than likely get in hassle! — they’ve no longer instructed me this, however perhaps IGN put this on Instagram, that there is communicate at Paramount about making every other Global Warfare Z. Once more, they’ve no longer instructed me this, however I am beautiful certain it’s as a result of that sport.
“They have got no longer instructed me this. I am guessing!” Willits persisted. “30 million folks. That is f***ing ridiculous! I noticed that [the Paramount news] and I used to be like, ‘Oh that’s gotta be us.’”
After all, this is not the primary time an effort to make Global Warfare Z 2 was once began. Global Warfare Z was once a industrial good fortune upon its free up in 2013, grossing over $540 million international on the field place of business (it was once Pitt’s highest-grossing movie sooner than the not too long ago launched F1 film overtook it).
Paramount showed its plans to make a sequel in a while after, however making plans became patchy after Marc Foster, director of the primary movie, introduced that he would no longer be returning to helm the second one function.
There was once an extra shake-up that ended in David Fincher signing on as J.A. Bayona’s substitute within the director’s chair. Alternatively, the sequel by no means pulled in combination as Paramount determined to halt pre-production in 2019, reportedly because of funds problems and a loss of momentum, although manufacturing was once intended to start out that yr.
In 2023, Fincher likened his scrapped Global Warfare Z sequel to HBO’s The Ultimate of Us TV adaptation, pronouncing he was once happy his film did not make it past pre-production. Fincher instructed GQ that there have been some notable similarities between his Brad Pitt-fronted follow-up movie to Global Warfare Z and the HBO adaptation of Naughty Canine’s The Ultimate of Us, such a lot in order that he was once left feeling satisfied his venture by no means got here in combination as a result of he felt the opposite had “extra actual property” to take on the similar subjects.
“It was once just a little like The Ultimate of Us,” Fincher stated, teasing what he had deliberate for the Global Warfare Z sequel. “I am happy that we did not do what we had been doing as a result of The Ultimate of Us has much more actual property to discover the similar stuff. In our identify collection, we had been going to make use of the little parasite… they used it of their identify collection and in that glorious opening with the Dick Cavett, David Frost-style communicate display.”
The query for enthusiasts of Global Warfare Z the film is in fact whether or not Pitt would go back for a possible sequel, or if Paramount would opt for a brand spanking new forged. In the meantime, any new Global Warfare Z film would obviously receive advantages Saber’s sport, and most likely spark a dialog a couple of online game sequel.
“I am not intended to mention the rest, however we’ve cool stuff to speak about in that sport at some point,” is all Willits would tease about Global Warfare Z.
We’ve were given lots extra from our interview with Willits, together with his feedback on how a big bite of enthusiasts have “assumptions” in regards to the Warhammer 40,000 universe which are unsuitable because of the large good fortune of the sport, why delaying House Marine 2 was once the most efficient factor Saber ever did, and imprecise pleasure about House Marine 3.
Photograph by way of Lars Niki/Corbis by means of Getty Photographs.
Wesley is Director, Information at IGN. In finding him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to succeed in Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
