Sure Shots: World War Z; America Ferrera; A Thousand Words or Less

* One thing I love about Brad Pitt is that he's still open to doing movies like World War Z at this stage of his career. He could be doing any number of high minded projects right now(and is with Cogan's Trade and Moneyball on the way) and still wants to dive into the middle of a global zombie war. Marc Forster is directing the adaptation of Max Brooks' novel, and Pitt finds himself surrounded by young talent: James Badge Dale(Lord of the Flies) and Mireille Enos(Big Love). Now he can add one more, with Game of Thrones' Elyes Gabel joining as a character named Fassbach. No details on the role have been revealed at this time. [THR]

* Thunder Monkey is back! If you don't get the reference, that was America Ferrera's name in the skateboarding flick, Lords of Dogtown. The ex-Ugly Betty star has been on the down low of late, perhaps exiling herself after the disaster that was Our Family Wedding. She did lend her voice to How to Train Your Dragon, so that was a positive. She's set to go in a direction her career never has before though, as she's set to play a cop in David Ayer's police drama, End of Watch. She'll join Anna Kendrick and Jake Gyllenhaal in the film about two LAPD cops who happen to be friends. Vague, eh? Ayer is best known for his gritty cop tales, including Training Day, Street Kings, Dark Blue, and Harsh Times. [Variety]

* Bert Royal is using the success he gained as writer of last year's sleeper hit, Easy A, to get one of his pet projects off and running. He's set to make his directorial debut with A Thousand Words or Less, a comedy following three contestants in a national essay competition engaging in a "sexy game of one-upmanship". Shailene Woodley(The Descendants) is being eyed to star. [Variety]