Brad Pitt signs on to star in ‘World War Z’

The ever-popular zombie genre’s reigning favorite book is set to be a box office hit, it seems, as Brad Pitt has committed to starring in the novel’s big screen adaptation.

World War Z is unique in its execution as a novel that presents a zombie apocalypse in war movie style vignettes, and along with author Max Brooks’s The Zombie Survival Guide, it has been massively successful within the zombie genre. (The Zombie Survival Guide is also being adapted as a film.) Brooks spoke to MTV about the film at Comic-Con:

Brooks said the studio recently received a new draft of the “World War Z” script, and “Quantum of Solace” director Marc Forster is still attached to direct the film.

“I’m glad they took their time, and are trying to make the best zombie movie they can,” said Brooks. “I’m so glad they stayed with the project and so glad they found the right team.”

Pitt’s Plan B Entertainment is producing the film, and a summer 2012 release is expected.