The Biggest Zombie Movie Ever Desperately Needs a Remake (And It Would Be Better)

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Zombie films are trending again, so expect an onslaught of reboots, follow-ups, and adaptations coming soon. This reminds us of one of the most popular zombie movies from the 2010s: “World War Z”. This film left a significant impact with its fast-moving zombies, even before they grouped together into swarms. The movie was hugely successful, and Paramount has finally announced a sequel that fans have been eagerly awaiting. However, what’s truly desirable is a remake that accurately reflects the original novel. It might be hard to fathom, but the book and film share only a small resemblance.

An Oral History of the Zombie War” felt short-changed with the movie adaptation. Although the film was engaging and chilling, it strayed significantly from the original book to such an extent that even its author found reason to comment on the differences. With the increasing popularity of zombies in pop culture and renewed interest in “World War Z,” now would be an ideal time for a faithful depiction of Brooks’ novel on screen.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

In contrast to the book, the movie World War Z followed a unique path. Instead of multiple protagonists, it focused on one character: Gerry Lane, portrayed by Brad Pitt. His quest was either to find the origin of the zombie virus or discover a possible cure, making for a thrilling action-packed journey from beginning to end.

The book, “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War,” isn’t a traditional novel but rather a compilation of various personal accounts. This structure allows readers to construct the overall narrative from diverse perspectives, making it seem as though they are piecing together a puzzle. In essence, these stories are based on interviews with survivors.

Example interviews feature Todd Wainio, portrayed by Mark Hamill in the audiobook, who was present during the Battle of Yonkers as a U.S. Army soldier. This battle was initially expected to be a significant victory for the people, but it unexpectedly shifted the course of the war. This harrowing depiction underscores the intense desperation that has arisen in the zombie war and highlights how our current human weaponry struggles to cope with this massive scale of conflict.

Instead, Maria Zhuganova’s account (as told by Jeri Ryan) focuses on earlier encounters against the zombie virus. In her story, Maria and her fellow soldiers were instructed to locate villagers suspected of being bitten, yet they received minimal guidance about what signs to look for or the risks they might face.

The Potential for a Television Show

Given that World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War presents a variety of tales and viewpoints, it seems ideal for an anthology-style television series format. Each episode could loosely revolve around a distinct interview, with mini-arcs focusing on particular locations or significant events during the Zombie War.

In the audiobook version of “World War Z,” the diverse cast effectively showcases its potential for success. Max Brooks, the author, played the interviewer role, while numerous prominent figures contributed their voices to various characters. This flexible approach could also be applied to a potential television series, enabling a constantly changing lineup of characters to join and depart as situations require. Essentially, it’s like the varied cast structure in “Black Mirror,” but with a zombie apocalypse theme.

In an ideal scenario, it’d be delightful to have many of these actors and voice artists return to play their roles in a live-action adaptation. Yet, we acknowledge that such a complete recast might not always be feasible. Nevertheless, we eagerly support Mark Hamill’s portrayal of Todd Wainio.

What the Show Could Get Right

In essence, the movie version of “World War Z” chose a straightforward narrative, which unfortunately eliminated the diverse global perspective that made “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War” unique and distinct in the realm of zombie narratives. This simplification resulted in less political depth or moral complexity. However, a fresh adaptation could potentially remedy this issue by maintaining the oral anthology format, allowing for the inclusion of more intricate politics and complex morality.

Of course, it’s clear that a television series based on “World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War” could strongly adopt a documentary-like style. It would fully utilize this format, incorporating interviews and archived footage to create an engaging faux-documentary. However, the creators wouldn’t shy away from adding action sequences, as they could effectively be presented as dramatized flashbacks when needed.

Although we enjoyed the thrill of World War Z as a zombie film, it leans excessively towards the conventional action genre, which isn’t quite our preferred style. Consequently, we yearn for a cinematic interpretation closer to the original book. Maybe someday we’ll witness this story unfold in a more satisfying manner.

World War Z is available to stream on Paramount+ and Tubi starting on September 1.

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2025-09-01 21:14