Interviews
Johnathon Schaech Talks Playing ‘Day of the Dead’ Remake’s New “Bub on Steroids” (Exclusive)
Earlier this month we lost the great George A. Romero, who not only brought to life Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead but also the military-themed Day of the Dead. While the former films are more popular, Day of the Dead (1985) featured one of the most famous of Romero’s zombies… Bub (Sherman Howard), Dr. Logan’s domesticated zombie experiment. Bub will live again in the latest Day of the Dead remake, with horror icon Johnathon Schaech delivering a modern take on the hero zombie.
We spoke with Schaech about the daunting task of revisiting the famous character, who was renamed to Max in the forthcoming remake.
“I did the movie because I wanted to play Bub,” Schaech reveals to Bloody Disgusting. “I think Max comes across more as the Hulk then Bub. He’s Bub on steroids.”
“Max is obsessed with Zoe Parker (played by Sophie Skelton), who I think everyone will be when they see the film,” he adds. “She’s just breathtaking. Bub didn’t have her in his film or I think he’d have felt the same way.”
Max is an intelligent zombie, which is what makes him and the role unique. Schaech speaks to the difficult role: “I think with my body – I can tell you a story with my body. I think my training as an actor made me really focus on that as one of my strengths.”
“Bub listening to music,” was Schaech’s favorite Romero moment. “Realizing that the zombies had humanity in them — If we weren’t scared of them would we still need to kill them? That could be someone we love.”
Schaech likens the film to “The Walking Dead” with “lot’s of action and scares,” adding that “it’s gloriously gory” with “no hidden punches.” He adds: “It’s full throttle.”
With the loss of Romero, among many others, Schaech got to talking about his own losses and personal demons.
“The loss of my friend Bill Paxton made me realize I just have been living a shell of the real me. Bill was such a positive force – and that is why he was so successful.
“I’m dealing with my shit, my health and my creativity with so much more care,” he continues, speaking to how the loss has changed him. “I’m finally addressing my dyslexia issues and the shame that’s followed me for my entire career. Shame can’t survive next to grace and that’s how I walk now… with grace and dignity.”
“Looking back, I got to work intimately with Mr. Romero, not as an actor but as a writer,” Schaech reminds us. “He was attached to direct our (Richard Chizmar and I) script for Stephen King’s From a Buick 8.
“I learned a lot from him and will be forever grateful I got that opportunity to work with such a legend.”
Day of the Dead follows a former medical student tormented by a dark figure from her past, who happens to be a half-human, half-zombie hell-bent on destroying her. Also starring are Sophie Skelton, Marcus Vanco, Jeff Gum (Exeter, The Vault), Lorina Kamburova (Nightworld, Leatherface Death Race 4), and Nick Loeb. Campbell Grobman Films produces, coming off of the upcoming Texas Chainsaw Massacre prequel, Leatherface, with Jeff Rice.
Watch for release news as it comes in.
As the inaugural season of Apple TV+’s stellar new series “Widow’s Bay” barrels toward its finale in two weeks, the latest episode gives Kate O’Flynn the spotlight as her character revisits her trauma with the Boogeyman.
“Your Baggage“, directed by Andrew DeYoung (Friendship), sees O’Flynn’s scene-stealing Patricia once again renew her fight with the Michael Myers-like stalker that slaughtered her peers during her adolescence. Thrillingly, it makes for one extended chase sequence that sees Patricia trying to warn others, while evading the undead killer.
In short, this episode’s incredible riff on Halloween and the slasher subgenre transformed Patricia into a fierce Final Girl.
“Well, that felt like a bucket list that I didn’t know was on my bucket list until I did it, but when I did it, I just lapped up every minute,” O’Flynn tells Bloody Disgusting of her triumphant turn this episode. “It felt fantastic for her to get that moment where she is becoming a badass. That was amazing.”
The actress turned to a few notable references for her performance. “Horror-wise, I go back to my youth, which was referenced in some of the episodes: Wicker Man, Carrie, and Rosemary’s Baby, that sort of thing is my kind of vibe.”
O’Flynn also notes how the series’ unique tone allows for so much creative freedom to make bold swings. “There’s something very freeing about it. Every moment is up for grabs, so it’s like we don’t have to totally land in one direction or another. It keeps it alive.“
Patricia is the eccentric assistant to Matthew Rhys‘ Mayor Tom Loftis, who’s at the forefront of trying to solve the island’s pesky curse predicament. Rhys felt the same about “Widow’s Bay” and its rare ability to make you laugh and scream in equal measure, stemming from series creator Katie Dippold.
“The mandate was, ‘It’s a real world with real people. You play for real.’ There’s no playing for comedy or horror,” Rhys echoes O’Flynn’s sentiments on how freeing the series’ tone has been.
New episodes will release every Wednesday through June 17 only on Apple TV+.
Kate O’Flynn in “Widow’s Bay,” now streaming on Apple TV.
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