It seems that the long-gestating sequel to World War Z is happening after all with news today that the project has been revived by Paramount Pictures after the studio has initially taken it off of their release schedule a few months back, according to Variety.

But not it seems the studio’s new CEO and chairman Jim Gianopulos has reactivated the sequel with some very exciting news as to could be behind the camera. David Fincher, acclaimed director of Gone Girl and Fight Club, is set to direct the film which will see star Brad Pitt reprise his role from the first film. Mireille Enos, David Morse, and Matthew Fox co-starred and the film grossed $540million worldwide.

World War Z

Fincher’s name had been linked to project for a while ever since the sequel was mooted but the previous regime at Paramount had decided against it when it removed the film from its upcoming slate, but it seems that Gianopulos is reversing the decision in what would be one of the first films greenlit under his guidance should official confirmation be announced.

Indeed, Gianopulos has a long relationship with Fincher notes the trade mag, after he greenlit Gone Girl when he was at 20th Century Fox. The film would be the fourth time the Fincher and Pitt have collaborated together, beginning with acclaimed thriller Se7en in 1995, which co-starred Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kevin Spacey. They re-teamed for Fight Club in 1999 with Edward Norton, Helena Bonham-Carter and Jared Leto; and, most recently, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button in 2008, which co-starred Cate Blanchett and Taraji P. Henson. The latter went on to scoop 13 Academy Award nominations, winning three (Best Visual Effects, Make-Up and Art Direction).

If greenlit officially, World War Z 2 could start shooting next year with a release in 2019.