Zombies (franchise)
{{Short description|American musical media franchise}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = Zombies
| image =
| image_upright =
| caption =
| creator =
| origin = {{based on|Zombies and Cheerleaders|David Light and Joseph Raso}}
| owner = Disney Channel
| years = 2018–present
| books =
| novels =
| short_stories =
| comics =
| magazines =
| films =
| shorts =
| animated_series = Zombies: The Re-Animated Series (2024)
| tv_specials =
| tv_shorts = Zombies: Addison's Moonstone Mystery (2020–present)
| tv_films = {{Plainlist|
- Zombies (2018)
- Zombies 2 (2020)
- Zombies 3 (2022)
- Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires (2025)
}}
| musicals = {{Plainlist|
}}
| soundtracks =
| music =
| otherlabel1 = Directed by
| otherlabel2 = Produced by
| otherlabel3 = Written by
| otherlabel4 = Music by
| otherlabel5 = Starring
| otherlabel6 = Cinematography
| otherlabel7 = Edited by
| otherdata1 = Paul Hoen
| otherdata2 = Mary Pantelidis
| otherdata3 = {{plainlist|
- David Light
- Joseph Raso
}}
| otherdata4 = {{plainlist|
- George S. Clinton
- Amit May Cohen (2 and 3)
}}
| otherdata5 = {{plainlist|
}}
| otherdata6 = {{plainlist|
- Robert Drinkmann (1)
- Rudolf Blahacek (2)
- Christian Herrera (3)
- Carlos González (4)
}}
| otherdata7 = {{plainlist|
- Lisa Jane Robison (1)
- Lisa Binkley (2 and 3)
}}
| website =
}}
The Zombies franchise consists of three musical adventure-comedy films directed by Paul Hoen, two Disney Channel Original Movies and one film that premiered on Disney+ before airing on Disney Channel. Written by David Light and Joseph Raso, the series began with Zombies (2018) and has continued on, with the most recent movie being Zombies 3 (2022). The franchise stars Milo Manheim as Zed and Meg Donnelly as Addison. Zombies premiered on Disney Channel on February 16, 2018, Zombies 2 premiered on Disney Channel on February 14, 2020, and Zombies 3 premiered on Disney+ on July 15, 2022 before airing on Disney Channel on August 12, 2022. It was originally meant to be a television series titled Zombies and Cheerleaders, but it was never developed or have ever aired, and was instead remade as the film Zombies.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}
About the franchise
It all started 50 years ago in the planned community of Seabrook where a lime soda incident at the Seabrook Power Plant caused an explosion that turned anyone exposed to its fog into brain-eating zombies. The zombies were contained in an area called Zombieville and the government later made Z-Bands to keep them from craving brains through electromagnetic pulses. The second film revealed a pre-Seabrook history involving werewolves having an artifact known as the moonstone that the settlers fought them over.
The franchise follows Zed, a zombie, and Addison, a human cheerleader, as they fall in love and fight for acceptance in monsters in Seabrook. Zed and Addison would break the fourth wall to explain some things to the viewers. The franchise has received the most critical acclaim and popularity of any of Disney's most recent properties yet, and has become one of Disney Channel's highest rated film series to date.
Film series
=''Zombies'' (2018)=
{{main|Zombies (2018 film)}}
Students from Zombietown transfer to Seabrook High, a school whose suburban town is filled with uniformity, traditions and pep rallies. When Zombie football player Zed and human cheerleader Addison fall in love, chaos ensues, and the two must lead their groups' to coexistence with each other.
In May 2017, Zombies was reported to have begun production.{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Greg |title=Production Begins On Disney Channel's 'Zombies' For 2018 Premiere |url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/zombies-disney-channel-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1202090172 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512193024/http://deadline.com/2017/05/zombies-disney-channel-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1202090172/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 12, 2017 |website=Deadline |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=May 11, 2017}} Its trailer was released on January 5, 2018.{{cite magazine |last1=Lenker |first1=Maureen Lee |title=Disney Channel original movie 'Zombies' to unite cheerleaders and zombies in a new musical |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/01/05/disney-channel-original-movie-zombies-trailer |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=March 28, 2021 |language=en |date=January 5, 2018}} Zombies was released on February 16, 2018. The film was watched by 2.6 million viewers on its premiere night.{{cite press release |title=Ratings - Disney Channel's Original Movie "Zombies" Reaches 10.3 Million Viewers Over the Holiday Weekend |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2018/02/20/disney-channels-original-movie-zombies-reaches-103-million-viewers-over-the-holiday-weekend-965010/20180220disney01 |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=February 20, 2018 |via=Disney Channel Press Release}}{{cite web |last1=Metcalf |first1=Mitch |title=UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.16.2018 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-friday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-16-2018.html |website=Showbuzz Daily |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=February 16, 2018 |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315052220/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-friday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-16-2018.html |url-status=dead }}
=''Zombies 2'' (2020)=
{{main|Zombies 2}}
Zed and Addison have continued to steer both their school and community toward unity. However, the arrival of the werewolves complicates their relationship.
In early 2019, a sequel to Zombies was in production, with the actors, director and writer returning.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/disneys-zombies-2-sequel-heads-into-production-with-returning-stars-director-writers-1202553258/|title=Disney's Zombies 2 Sequel Heads into Production with Returning Stars, Director, Writers|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Bruce |last=Haring|date=February 11, 2019|access-date=March 28, 2019}} Pearce Joza, Chandler Kinney, and Ariel Martin joined the cast with Kylee Russell, Trevor Tordjman, Carla Jeffery, James Godfrey, and Kingston Foster reprising their roles from the first film.{{cite press release|url=https://www.wdtvpress.com/disneychannel/shows/zombies-2/bios/|title=Zombies 2 Show Bios|website=Walt Disney Television Press|access-date=March 28, 2021|archive-date=August 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809055238/https://www.wdtvpress.com/disneychannel/shows/zombies-2/bios/|url-status=dead}} The film was released on February 14, 2020, watched by 2.5 million viewers{{cite web |title=SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.14.2020 |url=http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-friday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-14-2020.html |website=Showbuzz Daily |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=February 14, 2020 |archive-date=February 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218212356/http://www.showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-friday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-14-2020.html |url-status=dead }} and received positive reviews.
=''Zombies 3'' (2022)=
{{main|Zombies 3}}
Seabrook's humans, zombies, and werewolves coexist. Being this is senior year at Seabrook's high school for Zed and Addison, the former is looking to become the first zombie admitted into higher education with a football scholarship, and the latter is in the final stages of preparing to open a new cheerleading pavilion and host a competition consisting of cheer teams from around the world. Meanwhile, aliens arrive at Seabrook, whose leaders A-Spen, A-Li, and A-Lan initially claiming they are interested in spectating the cheer competition Addison organized.
In late-March 2021, Disney Channel green-lit Zombies 3 with Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim returning to star.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Zach |title=Production Begins This Spring on Disney Channel's ZOMBIES 3 |url=https://d23.com/production-begins-this-spring-on-disney-channels-zombies-3 |website=D23 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=March 22, 2021}} Paul Hoen was also reported to be returning as director as well as David Light and Joseph Raso as writers.{{cite web |last1=Pedersen |first1=Erik |title='Zombies 3': Disney Channel Digs Up Second Sequel; Meg Donnelly & Milo Manheim Return As Franchise Goes Intergalactic |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/zombies-3-disney-channel-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1234719141 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323014822/https://deadline.com/2021/03/zombies-3-disney-channel-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1234719141/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 23, 2021 |website=Deadline |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=March 22, 2021}} Light, Raso and Suzanne Farwell will executive produce.{{cite web |last1=Nordyke |first1=Kimberly |title='Zombies 3' Greenlighted at Disney Channel |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/zombies-3-greenlighted-at-disney-channel |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=March 28, 2021 |language=en |date=March 22, 2021}}{{cite web |last1=Sandwell |first1=Ian |title=Zombies 3: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/a30960770/zombies-3-release-date-disney |website=Digital Spy |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=March 23, 2021}} On May 19, 2021, Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao and Terry Hu joined the cast as A-Lan, A-Li and A-Spen.{{cite press release |title=Breaking News — Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao and Terry Hu Land Out-of-This-World Roles in "Zombies 3," The Third Installment of Disney Channel's Highly Popular Franchise |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2021/05/19/matt-cornett-kyra-tantao-and-terry-hu-land-out-of-this-world-roles-in-zombies-3-the-third-installment-of-disney-channels-highly-popular-franchise-344415/20210519disney01 |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=May 24, 2021 |date=May 19, 2021|via=Disney Channel press release}} Chandler Kinney, Pearce Joza, Ariel Martin, Trevor Tordjman, Carla Jeffery, Kylee Russell, James Godfrey and Kingston Foster were reported to be reprising their roles. Production began on May 31, 2021.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='Zombies 3': Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao, Terry Hu Join Disney Channel Movie |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/zombies-3-matt-cornett-kyra-tantao-terry-hu-cast-disney-channel-movie-1234759233 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210520000851/https://deadline.com/2021/05/zombies-3-matt-cornett-kyra-tantao-terry-hu-cast-disney-channel-movie-1234759233/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 20, 2021 |website=Deadline |access-date=May 24, 2021 |date=May 19, 2021}} In May 2022, it was announced that RuPaul would be voicing the mothership. It was also announced that the film would premiere on July 15, 2022 on Disney+ as an original film, with an extended version premiering on Disney Channel on August 12.{{cite magazine |last1=Nolfi|first1=Joey |title=RuPaul joins Disney's Zombies 3 movie as the mother of all alien spaceships |url=https://ew.com/movies/rupaul-disney-zombies-3-movie-release-date/|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=May 20, 2022 |access-date=May 20, 2022}}
= ''Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires'' (2025) =
{{main|Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires}}
In February 2024, Disney Branded Television greenlit Zombies 4, with Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim reprising their roles and are also set to executive produce the film. Chandler Kinney and Kylee Russell were also set to return for the film. Additionally, Freya Skye and Malachi Barton join the cast as new characters, Nova and Victor, respectively. Paul Hoen returns to direct, with David Light, Joseph Raso, and Josh Cagan writing the film. Hoen, Light, Raso, Jane Fleming, and Mark Ordesky will also serve as executive producers. Mahita P. Simpson will co-executive produce the film. Production for the film began in March 2024 in New Zealand.{{cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=February 10, 2024 |title=Zombies 4: Disney Channel Franchise Expands With Another Sequel Film & New Animated Series |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/zombies-4-disney-channel-animated-series-meg-donnelly-milo-manheim-1235821128/ |access-date=February 21, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood}} In March 2024, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife, Lisa Chappell, and Jonno Roberts joined the cast.{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=March 26, 2024 |title=Disney's Zombies 4 Rounds Out Cast As Production Begins In New Zealand |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/zombies-4-disney-cast-production-begins-1235869109/ |access-date=March 26, 2024 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}
Television series
=''Zombies: Addison's Moonstone Mystery'' / ''Zombies: Addison's Monster Mystery''=
On October 16, 2020, Zombies: Addison's Moonstone Mystery, a series of animated shorts, began airing on Disney Channel. The story revolves around Addison (Meg Donnelly) who journeys through a mysterious dreamscape to find her true identity.{{cite web |last1=Damore |first1=Meagan |title=Disney's Zombies Animated Shorts Land a Spooky Release Date (Exclusive) |url=https://www.cbr.com/disney-zombies-animated-shorts-release-date |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=March 28, 2021 |date=October 2, 2020}}
The series was renewed for a second season with its new title, Addison’s Monster Mystery, which premiered on October 1, 2021.
=''Zombies: The Re-Animated Series''=
{{Main|Zombies: The Re-Animated Series}}
In June 2022, during the Annecy Film Festival, it was reported that an animated series, titled Zombies: The Re-animated Series, is being developed by Disney Television Animation for Disney+ and Disney Channel. Descendants: Wicked World creator and director Aliki Theofilopoulos and Amphibia story editor Jack Ferriolo will serve as creators and showrunners. The duo will also executive-produce the series alongside Gary Marsh and the films' writers Joseph Russo and David Light.{{Cite web |last=Pedersen |first=Lise |date=2022-06-15 |title=Disney Reveals Animated Series Slate at Annecy Festival (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/disney-annecy-1235294867/ |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{cite tweet|user=alikigreeky|number=1537111040462229506|title=Some news}} Zombies: The Re-animated Series Shorts premiered on July 21, 2023 on Disney Channel,{{cite tweet |number=1668670413377875988 |user=DisneyChannel |title=Get ready! Here's your first look at the Seabrook crew in #ZOMBIESReanimated. ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts premieres on July 21 on @DisneyChannel, and keep your eyes peeled for the full series, which will be here before you know it! |author=Disney Channel |date=June 13, 2023 |access-date=February 21, 2024}} and the full series debuted on June 28, 2024.
Live performances
=''Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour'' (2025)=
At the Disney Entertainment Showcase on August 9, 2024, held during the D23 Expo, Disney Branded Television, Disney Concerts, Disney Music Group, and AEG have announced the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour, set for summer 2025.{{Cite web |last=Faber |first=Maxon |date=August 10, 2024 |title=Video: Rita Ora Announces "Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour" at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event |url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/disney-entertainment/descendants-zombies-tour-d23/ |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=LaughingPlace.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Sharpe |first=Josh |date=August 12, 2024 |title='Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour' Coming in Summer 2025 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/DescendantsZombies-Worlds-Collide-Tour-Coming-in-Summer-2025-20240812 |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} This tour will bring together stars from both the Descendants and Zombies franchises, with confirmed appearances by the Descendants: The Rise of Red and Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires stars Kylie Cantrall, Malia Baker, Dara Reneé, Ruby Rose Turner, Freya Skye and Malachi Barton, with more to be announced later. The tour will be an immersive and interactive live concert experience celebrating the high-energy music from both franchises and will be held in arenas across the United States with ticket sales to begin in November 2024.{{Cite web |last= |date=August 9, 2024 |title=The Unmatched Power of Disney Storytelling on Display from Disney Entertainment on Night One of D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-entertainment-d23-night-one-storytelling/ |access-date=2024-08-13 |website=The Walt Disney Company |language=en-US}}
Crew
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;"
! Year ! Film ! Director ! Producer ! Writers ! Composer(s) ! Cinematographers ! Editor |
| 2018
| Zombies | rowspan="4" | Paul Hoen | rowspan="3"| Mary Pantelidis | rowspan="3"| David Light and Joseph Raso | Robert Drinkmann | Lisa Jane Robinson |
| 2020
| rowspan="2"| George S. Clinton and Amit May Cohen | Rudolf Blahacek | rowspan="2"| Lisa Binkley |
| 2022
| Christian Herrera |
| 2025
|Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires | colspan="3" |TBA |TBA |
Cast
{{Cast indicator|appeared=the series|V}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:100%;" Note: An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the film.
! rowspan="3" style="width:20%" | Character ! colspan="4"| Films ! colspan="2" |Television series |
| style="width:20%"| Zombies
! style="width:20%"| Zombies 2 ! style="width:20%"| Zombies 3 ! style="width:20%"| Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires !Zombies: Addison's Moonstone Mystery |
|---|
| 2018
!2020 !2022 !2025 !2020–2021 !2024–present |
| Zed Necrodopolis
| colspan="6" | Milo Manheim |
| Addison Wells
| colspan="6" | Meg Donnelly |
| Bucky Buchanan
| colspan="3"| Trevor Tordjman | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Trevor Tordjman |
| Eliza Zambi
| colspan="6" | Kylee Russell |
| Bree
| colspan="3"| Carla Jeffery | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Carla Jeffery |
| Zoey Necrodopolis
| colspan="3"| Kingston Foster | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Kingston Foster |
| Bonzo
| colspan="3"| James Godfrey | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | James Godfrey |
| Ms. Lee
| colspan="3"| Naomi Snieckus | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Naomi Snieckus |
| Coach
| colspan="3"| Jonathan Langdon | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Jonathan Langdon |
| Dale Wells
| colspan="3"| Paul Hopkins | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Missy Wells
| colspan="3"| Marie Wards | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Zevon Necrodopolis
| colspan="3"| Tony Nappo | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Lacey
| colspan="3"| Emilia McCarthy | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Stacey
| colspan="3"| Jasmine Renee Thomas | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Tracey
| Mickeey Nguyen | colspan="5" {{cEmpty}} |
| Willa Lykensen
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="5" | Chandler Kinney |
| Wyatt Lykensen
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Pearce Joza | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Pearce Joza |
| Wynter Barkowitz
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" | Ariel Martin | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Ariel Martin |
| Kevin "Jacey"
| {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2"| Noah Zulfikar | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| A-Lan
| colspan=2 {{cEmpty}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| A-Li
| colspan=2 {{cEmpty}} | Kyra Tantao | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| A-Spen
| colspan=2 {{cEmpty}} | Terry Hu | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} | Terry Hu |
| The Mothership
| colspan=2 {{cEmpty}} | RuPaul{{ref|voice|V}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Angie
| colspan=2 {{cEmpty}} | colspan="3" {{cEmpty}} |
| Nova
| colspan=3 {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Victor
| colspan=3 {{cEmpty}} | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Vera
| colspan=3 {{cEmpty}} | Swayam Bhatia | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Ray
| colspan=3 {{cEmpty}} | Julian Lerner | colspan="2" {{cEmpty}} |
| Vargas
| colspan=3 {{cEmpty}} | Mekonnen Knife | colspan=2 {{cEmpty}} |
Critical response
{{Hatnote|Each film is linked to the "Critical response" section of its article.}}
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align: center;"
! scope="col" | Film ! scope="col" | Rotten Tomatoes |
| scope="row" | Zombies
| {{N/a}} |
|---|
| scope="row" | Zombies 2
| {{RT data|table||title=Zombies 2}}{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id=zombies_2 |title=Zombies 2 |type=m |access-date={{RT data|access date|title=Zombies 2}}}}{{cbignore}} |
| scope="row" | Zombies 3
| {{RT data|table||title=Zombies 3}}{{Cite Rotten Tomatoes |id=zombies_3 |title=Zombies 3 |type=m |access-date={{RT data|access date|title=Zombies 3}}}}{{cbignore}} |
Referencese
{{Reflist}}
{{Zombies franchise}}
{{Disney franchises}}
Category:Disney Channel Original Movie films
Category:Films shot in Toronto
Category:Comedy film franchises
Category:Film series introduced in 2018