There has been a real lack of good zombie movies out there for horror fans. Sure, we can always fall back on The Walking Dead reruns, but sometimes you just find yourself reaching for Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead or another Romero staple to satisfy that undead craving.
George A. Romero has always been our go to when it comes to zombies done right, and now his final contribution to the world of the undead is one step closer to becoming a reality.
TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD has officially wrapped production, bringing Romero’s final zombie story to the screen nearly a decade after his death.
Romero passed away in 2017, leaving behind a treatment for Twilight of the Dead, a project he envisioned as his final statement on the zombie genre. The story was later developed with Paolo Zelati and completed with additional screenwriters under the supervision of Romero’s wife, Suzanne Romero. The Romero estate has remained involved with the project throughout its development.
This is also not simply another Romero inspired zombie flick. The film is being built from Romero’s own story, making Twilight of the Dead a particularly significant piece of horror history. The story takes place on a devastated Earth where the remaining humans are caught between warring factions and an evolving undead threat.
The Paz Brothers, Doron and Yoav Paz, directed the film, with Kate Beckinsale taking over the lead role previously attached to Milla Jovovich. The cast also includes Betty Gabriel, Abigail London, Kurt Deimer, Phil Burke, Cooper Barnes, Tait Fletcher and John D. Hickman.
There is another pretty damn important Romero connection behind the camera. Greg Nicotero, whose career began working with Romero on Day of the Dead, is handling the special effects. Nicotero later became one of the most recognizable names in zombie effects through his work on The Walking Dead, making his involvement here feel like a perfect connection between Romero’s original zombie legacy and the modern genre.
Deadline was first to report that filming had wrapped, with production taking place in Kentucky. Magenta Light Studios has North American rights and is expected to release the film theatrically in the United States and Canada.
For fans who grew up with Romero’s zombies, Twilight of the Dead represents something considerably more meaningful than another entry in an overcrowded zombie genre. This is a final story from the man who helped define the modern zombie, finally making its way to the screen.