Remembering when Brad Pitt filmed in Glasgow for World War Z

This month marks 10 years since Brad Pitt travelled to our city for his horror flick World War Z.

The movie went on to be released in 2013, with Glasgow playing a starring role as hundreds of the undead where seen pouring into George Square.

Fans travelled from far and wide to witness the city’s streets transformed into Philadelphia with S.W.A.T team vans, yellow cabs and United States of America flags galore.

While office staff across the city centre abandoned all work in the hope of catching a glimpse of the A-lister or his former wife Angelina Jolie, who had travelled with her then partner and their children during filming.

At the time, it was rumoured the family had taken up residence at the Carnell Estate in Ayrshire where Angelina was pictured strolling through the grounds with the pair’s youngest four children - Shiloh, Zahara and twins Vivienne and Knox - alongside one of the family’s nannies.

The Jolie-Pitt clan’s eldest sons, Maddox and Pax, weren’t photographed during their time in Scotland, however, it’s understood the family arrived via a privately chartered Virgin train from London, which also served as a filming location for the movie.

Crews called action on August 17, 2011, as the first scenes were filmed throughout George Square - despite set products and props showing up weeks earlier - before moving on to the now defunct Kwik Save shop on Paisley Road West in Cardonald.

The stars were on set until August 31 alongside around 2,000 Glaswegian extras who took on roles for the film.

Brad and his co-stars where then whisked away to various other UK locations and even Malta to continue with filming.

However, his short Glasgow stint helped provide a boost of around £2million to the local economy.

During his time in the city, he became a hit with Glaswegians who begged for photos or a quick wave as he performed his action role.

Speaking to the Glasgow Times in 2011, fans told how keen they were to catch a glimpse of the megastar, who stopped to wave and chat with onlookers before exiting the set.

Cat McGovern, 27, a project worker from Shawlands, said: “I don’t start work until later in the afternoon.
“I came down on Monday when it was all being set up so it’s amazing to see how transformed it is.
“I have to leave soon but I’m really hoping to catch a glimpse of Brad.”

Ian Plunkett, 35, from Tollcross, said he auditioned for a part as an extra in the movie – and had even booked time off work in case he was lucky.
The Yorkhill Hospital worker said: “I didn’t get a call back though, I was really gutted.”

Glasgow hasn’t been shy of its movie roles in the decade since Brad visited.
Idris Elba filmed his role for Fast and Furious: Hobbs and Shaw at George Square in 2019, while earlier this year the city was transformed into New York as Harrison Ford descended for the latest Indiana Jones instalment.
Superhero film The Flash has also been recording in Glasgow this summer with the film expected to hit cinemas in a few years.