Par starts 'World War Z' with Dec. 2012

Paramount has dated the Brad Pitt zombie pic "World War Z" for Dec. 21, 2012, putting it in a head-to-head battle with Disney's "The Lone Ranger" and just a week after the first half of "The Hobbit." "World War Z," based on the tome by Max Brooks, is being directed by Marc Forester. Mireille Enos and James Badge Dale also star in the story of a United Nations employee -- played by Pitt -- who traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments and threatening to decimate humanity. The project is being co-financed by David Ellison's Skydance Productions and is produced by Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Colin Wilson. Matthew Michael Carnahan is the penning the script. December 2012 is already packed with intriguing projects, including a Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained," which bows on Christmas Day, and Ang Lee's magical adventure "Life of Pi" starring Tobey McGuire, also scheduled to open Dec. 21. Contact Justin Kroll at justin.kroll@variety.com