As I get older I find my constitution for extreme graphic violence isn’t what it used to be. Many years have passed since I’ve eagerly sat down to watch a horror flick, so gruesome fare like the Saw series winds up way outside my radar. Having said that, I can’t ignore the success and longevity that 2008’s Crossed series produced; and figured I’d just have to suck it up and see why this little universe has found a home with loyal fans.

Like most post-apocalyptic yarns, this story begins with one person who attacks another; spreading sickness among the population like wildfire and eventually burning through most of humanity with staggering speed. But that’s where the easy comparison to your average zombie plague stops. See, the infected aren’t mindless shufflers; they’re every bit as human as the rest of us, only they’re fueled by an uncontrollable evil to create havoc. There’s no reasoning, no negotiating; just carnage.

And it is downright terrifying.

San Diego Comic-Con has barely started and we can already bring you some pretty cool news about a great project. During an interview with MTV during preview night at the Con, World War Z writer Max Brooks confirmed that not only is the big screen adaptation of his novel finally moving forward, but Brad Pitt has officially been attached to star in the film.

Back when I interviewed Brooks over two years ago, his novel was just being adapted by Babylon 5 and comics writer J. Michael Straczynski. Since then, writer Michael Carnahan has penned a draft. In addition, the film is still moving forward with Quantum of Solace director Marc Forester attached.

Also according to reports, the novel World War Z isn’t the only zombie story from Max Brooks headed for the big screen. Both The Zombie Survival Guide and The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks graphic novel have also been optioned and will be adapted for the big screen by writers yet to be determined.

According to Brooks, the studio is currently targeting a Summer 2012 release for World War Z, which chronicles a worldwide zombie outbreak through the first-hand accounts of survivors. No further information is available on the other two projects at the moment, but when it is you can be sure we’ll bring it to you.