History of World War Z in Timeline

World War Z, by Max Brooks, is a novel presented as a collection of oral histories recorded by a UN agent after a global zombie war. The book is divided into eight chapters that focus on different stages of the crisis, from initial warnings and the ensuing panic to the eventual turning of the tide and total war. Through individual accounts from diverse survivors worldwide, the novel depicts the widespread social, political, religious, economic, and environmental consequences of the zombie plague, offering a comprehensive and terrifying vision of a world brought to the brink of collapse.

October 30, 1938: The War of the Worlds Broadcast

On October 30, 1938, Orson Welles's radio narration of The War of the Worlds was broadcast. This event was later referenced in a review of the World War Z audiobook, with comparisons drawn between the gripping storytelling and the evocative listening experience.

1967: Demarcation Line Established

In 1967, the demarcation line was established, which later influenced Israel's response to the zombie threat in World War Z by constructing a wall along this line as part of their quarantine policy.

1984: Inspiration from The Good War

In 1984, Studs Terkel published The Good War: An Oral History of World War Two, which later inspired Max Brooks to write World War Z in the style of an oral history.

The Good War: An Oral History of World War II

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2003: The Zombie Survival Guide

In 2003, Max Brooks released The Zombie Survival Guide, a fictional survival manual that served as a precursor to World War Z. The guide laid the groundwork for the zombie "laws" that would be followed in World War Z.

The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead

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June 2006: Film Rights Secured by Paramount

In June 2006, Paramount Studios secured the film rights for World War Z for Brad Pitt's production company, Plan B Entertainment, to produce the movie. The screenplay was initially written by J. Michael Straczynski.

2006: Publication of World War Z

In 2006, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, a zombie apocalyptic horror novel written by Max Brooks, was published. The novel presents a collection of individual accounts recorded by a UN agent after a global conflict against a zombie plague, detailing the experiences of survivors and the resulting social, political, and environmental changes.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

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2007: Abridged Audiobook Published

In 2007, Random House published an abridged audiobook version of World War Z, directed by John McElroy and produced by Dan Zitt. It featured Max Brooks and other actors voicing the characters in the novel.

2007: Audie Award Won

In 2007, The World War Z audiobook won the Audie Award for Multi-Voiced Performance and was nominated for Audiobook of the Year.

2007: Audie Award for Audiobook Version

In 2007, the audiobook version of World War Z, performed by a full cast including Alan Alda, Mark Hamill, and John Turturro, won an Audie Award.

2009: Production Delayed

In 2009, the production of the World War Z film was delayed due to a complete rewrite of the script by Matthew Michael Carnahan.

November 2011: One Million Copies Sold

By November 2011, World War Z had sold one million copies across all formats.

2011: Filming Commenced

In mid-2011, filming commenced for the World War Z film adaptation.

2012: Brooks States Film Different from Novel

In 2012, Max Brooks stated that the World War Z film adaptation had very little in common with the original novel, other than the title.

May 14, 2013: Complete Edition Audiobook Released

On May 14, 2013, Random House Audio released World War Z: The Complete Edition (Movie Tie-in Edition): An Oral History of the Zombie War. It contains the entirety of the original, abridged audiobook, as well as new recordings of each missing segment, featuring twenty additional actors.