Movies
‘Twilight of the Dead’ – Brad Anderson Directing Zombie Movie That Began as a George A. Romero Treatment
Before he passed away in 2017, horror master George A. Romero had been developing one final zombie movie titled Twilight of the Dead, which has shown brief signs of life here and there over the years. The film is finally coming to life, The Hollywood Reporter lets us know this morning, with Brad Anderson (Session 9, The Machinist, Blood) on board to direct!
“Shooting is expected to start later this year,” THR notes in their exclusive report.
“George Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead may have been the first real horror movie I ever saw and its shock value, its keen social relevance, and even the means by which it was made were all hugely inspirational to me,” said Anderson. “This too is a zombie movie in which limbs fly and heads roll, but one that is also about social transformation, one that asks the question: What is it to be human? It is also a horror movie with “heart” and, dare I say, hope.”
The George A. Romero estate is teaming up with LA-based financier-producer Roundtable on Twilight of the Dead, being positioned as the “final installment” in Romero’s ‘Dead’ franchise. The original treatment for the planned project was penned by Romero himself, but Joe Knetter, Robert Lucas, and Paolo Zelati tackled the actual screenplay.
Romero followed seminal zombie film Night of the Living Dead with Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead and Survival of the Dead. The upcoming Twilight of the Dead takes the zombie terror to a fresh location: a tropical island.
Twilight of the Dead is said to “delve into the dark nature of humanity from the perspective of the last humans on earth who are caught between factions of the undead.”
Producers include Suzanne Romero, John Baldecchi, Sarah Donnelly, Paolo Zelati and Ardvella Entertainment’s Stephanie Caleb, with executive producers set as Dominic Ianno, Alex Dundas, Jason Resnick, Chris Roe, and Luis Riefkohl.
Suzanne Romero said in a statement, “I’m delighted to be joining forces with Roundtable to bring the eerie evolution of Romero’s universe to the screen. Roundtable impressed me with their long-term and deep love of George’s work. I believe they have the vision to produce the best version of this movie that honors the Romero legacy. I can’t wait to start filming!”
Roundtable’s Head of Scripted John Baldecchi adds, “We’re thrilled to be working alongside Suzanne, Paolo, and Stephanie to bring the final instalment of this epic series. It is the perfect ending to one of the greatest horror legacies of all time, with a powerful and timely message about how humanity is the cause of its own destruction, over and over and over again.”
Big Daddy (Eugene Clark) in ‘Land of the Dead’ (2005)
We’re now just days away from the theatrical release of The Strangers: Chapter 1, the first film in a brand new reboot trilogy from director Renny Harlin (A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Dream Master, Deep Blue Sea). It’s coming to theaters May 17, 2024.
While you wait, check out two brand new images from The Strangers: Chapter 1, which Lionsgate has exclusively shared with Bloody Disgusting to whet your appetite this week.
The first image sets a creepy mood with the Man in the Mask lurking in the woods, trusty axe in hand, while the second sees Madelaine Petsch’s Maya tied to a chair while the Man in the Mask and Dollface look on. We can be pretty sure Pinup Girl isn’t far behind…
Tickets for The Strangers: Chapter 1 are now available. Grab them here.
Madelaine Petsch (“Riverdale”), Froy Gutierrez (Hocus Pocus 2), Rachel Shenton (The Silent Child), Ema Horvath (“Rings of Power”) and Gabe Basso (Hillbilly Elegy) star.
Based on the original 2008 cult horror franchise, the project features Petsch, who drives cross-country with her longtime boyfriend (Gutierrez) to begin a new life in the Pacific Northwest. When their car breaks down in Venus, Oregon, they’re forced to spend the night in a secluded Airbnb, where they are terrorized from dusk till dawn by three masked strangers.
Here’s the full official synopsis: “After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple are forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.”
Renny Harlin (Cliffhanger, Deep Blue Sea, Die Hard 2) is directing from a script by Alan R. Cohen and Alan Freedland (The Freak Brothers, Due Date). Lionsgate will distribute worldwide.
The Strangers began in 2008 with Bryan Bertino’s original home invasion horror movie, a terrifying film that introduced three masked killers who returned 10 years later with The Strangers: Prey at Night in 2018. The first film took place in a remote house in the woods while the sequel brought the murderous Man in the Mask, Dollface and Pinup Girl into a trailer park.
The Strangers – Chapter 1. Photo Credit: John Armour for Lionsgate
Madelaine Petsch as Maya in The Strangers – Chapter 1. Photo Credit: John Armour for Lionsgate
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