World War Z: New Plot Details

After the recent set pics and casting leaks, Paramount has issued a press release officially announcing the cast, release date, and plot for World War Z. While the release date and cast list is nothing new, the plot synopsis reveals that World War Z doesn't appear to be following the exact same story from the book:

"The story revolves around United Nations employee Gerry Lane (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 itself. Enos plays Gerry’s wife Karen Lane; Kertesz is his comrade in arms, Segen."

Paramount could just be spicing up the plot details, thinking "a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic" sounds better to those who have never read the book, but this seems like a big departure. Those who have read World War Z know that it takes place years after the zombie war, with oral histories of the survivors being collected. Will the film be a series of flashbacks? Is it taking place in the middle of the zombie apocalypse and abandoning the style of the book? We have a lot of questions at this point and will keep an eye out for more information as it is released.

World War Z will be released on December 21, 2012, is directed by Marc Forster, and stars Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, James Badge Dale, and Matthew Fox.