Brad Pitt begins shooting footage for his new film “World War Z” in Glasgow, Scotland today. The much anticipated zombie thriller has transformed the European city into the streets of Philadelphia.
The film is base on Max Brooks’ 2006 novel World War Z: An Oral History Of The Zombie War. The story is set in Philadelphia shortly after a large battle between humans and zombies has ensued.
Brad Pitt will be playing the role of Gerry Lane in the film. Lane is a United Nations employee who interviews and records the thoughts of those who survived the war.
The set is equipped with taxis, American cars, and other decor showcasing American life in the city. A representative of Glasgow Film Office said that Glasgow was the chosen city for the film because of its grid-like system of streets that are similar to the streets of Philadelphia.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, a spokesperson for the Glasgow City Council believes that the impact of production on the local economy of Glasgow could range upwards of $3.4 million.
The Christian Science Monitor reported the film will be released on alleged doomsday December 21, 2012.
Paramount, the company behind the film, has received scrutiny from avid fans of the novel after hearing it will most likely be rated PG-13. They believe that the PG-13 title will limit the amount of visceral zombie violence that was such a great aspect of the novel.
However, others believe that leaving the film PG-13 will allow for a more tasteful representation that will be enjoyable for a broader audience.
The film is being directed by Marc Forster. Some critics speculate Forster won’t be able to deliver a action-packed film, however this film is more about how human population responds to a global emergency on a political, social, and personal level than pure zombie carnage. Although the movie will have its portion of violence the film looks more closely at the human psyche and its response to catastrophe.
