Bad news for fans looking forward to seeing another installment in the Friday the 13th franchise and for anyone eagerly anticipating the planned sequel to World War Z. Paramount postponed release dates for both projects indefinitely. And in the case of Friday the 13th, THR is reporting that the studio has cancelled the film, altogether.
Early speculation would suggest that the plug being pulled on Friday the 13th may have to do with the poor box office performance of Rings. No word on if or when we might see Jason again but it’s likely only a matter of time.
The project was previously slated for release on October 13, 2017 release date. Several targeted release dates had come and gone before that.
Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners) penned the most recent draft of the screenplay. And Breck Eisner (The Crazies) was on board to direct. David Bruckner was previously attached to direct. But Paramount explained that they felt it would be unfair to retain him with all of the setbacks. And he was eventually released from the project.
Last we heard, David Fincher (Se7en) was is in talks to direct World War Z 2. And Brad Pitt was slated to return. Production was slated to begin in 2017.
Juan Antonio Bayona was previously set to helm the project but was recently tapped to direct the follow up to Jurassic World, instead.
Steven Knight (Eastern Promises) had been tapped to script the film but it’s unclear exactly where the project is headed now. Plot details are scarce at this point, other than that the film will take place in the midst of a zombie outbreak and Pitt will reprise his role as Gerry Lane.
