World War Z 2: Steven Knight to write sequel and Brad Pitt to return

Pitt will reprise his role as zombie-fighting UN employee Gerry Lane

Street-fighting man: Brad Pitt stars in ‘World War Z’

Steven Knight looks set to pen the sequel to apocalyptic zombie thriller World War Z, reports claim.

The Oscar-nominated screenwriter, known for Dirty Pretty Things and Locke, has been hired to work alongside director JA Bayona, according to Variety.

Brad Pitt will return to the lead role after playing zombie-fighting United Nations employee Gerry Lane in the 2013 original. He will also be producing, alongside Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner.

The US actor, who was attacked at the Maleficient premiere last night, is also in early talks to star in a World War II romance also written by Knight.

Plot details for the next World War Z are being kept under wraps but the storyline is expected to continue from where Marc Forster’s movie left off.

The first film, based on Max Brooks’ popular novel of the same name, was a hit at the box office. Despite going well over budget with reshoots, it took over $540 million worldwide to become Pitt’s most successful movie and won a fair amount of critical praise

A release date for the second instalment has yet to be confirmed but fans can expect to see it in 2016.