GLASGOW will host an exclusive screening of Brad Pitt's zombie movie World War Z two days before its global release.

The Grosvenor, in Ashton Lane, will stage the showing on June 19 as part of the West End Festival.

Other than the world premiere being held on June 2 in London's Leicester Square there are no other screenings of the film until after the Grosvenor event.

Ken Creelman, the cinema's development manager, approached Paramount to see if it would allow the venue to show it because of the film's connections to Glasgow.

The filmmakers transformed the city centre into Philadelphia in August 2011, when hundreds of production staff and extras filmed a zombie attack in and around George Square.

Ken said: "I spoke to my contact at Para-mount to find out when the release for World War Z was.

"He told me it was June 21 and I thought that was a perfect time to work with the West End Festival. So Paramount agreed to us getting a showing before it's released.

"People have been desperate to see it because if you are from Glasgow you know straight away that's where it's filmed."

The cinema is to hold the screening at 9pm. There are only 100 seats.

Beforehand there will be a Zombie-style party in the Lane Bar. The staff want customers to dress up and are planning to roll out the red carpet.

Grosvenor manager Kate Coventry said: "It's such a coup for us to get this and we are absolutely excited.

"It's fantastic for the West End Festival and Glasgow."

Alan Mahon, cinema communications and social media officer, said: "World War Z is ours. As Glaswegians we are a part of it and the film belongs to us in a way. We want people to really go the whole hog on the night and get dressed up."

The trailer for the film features several scenes of Glasgow.

Brad stars as Gerry Lane, a UN worker searching for information that can stop a global zombie outbreak. Actress Mireille Enos plays his wife Karin and mum to their two children.

As reported in the Evening Times on April 25, Glasgow City Council leader Gordon Matheson wrote to Paramount asking them to stage a premiere in the city.

It is estimated the 17-day shoot in Glasgow boosted the city's economy by around £3.33million.

Liz Scobie, chair-woman of West End Festival, said: "It's great to see a piece of Hollywood coming to the West End."

To get tickets visit www.grosvenorcafe.co.uk, call 0845 166 6002 or visit the cinema.

rachel.loxton@ eveningtimes.co.uk