Movies
Kate Beckinsale Replaces Milla Jovovich in ‘Twilight of the Dead;’ New Directors Attached
The friendly rivalry between Underworld and Resident Evil lives on, as Kate Beckinsale is replacing Milla Jovovich in Twilight of the Dead, Deadline reports.
The project, which began as a treatment by George A. Romero for the final chapter in his zombie saga prior to his 2017 passing, has been overhauled not only with a fresh star but also new directors and financiers.
The Paz Brothers (Jeruzalem, The Golem) are taking over the directorial reins from Brad Anderson, with stunts veteran Ho-Sung Pak (Bullet Train, Nightcrawler) set to helm the stunt and action sequences.
Twilight of the Dead is set on a decimated earth where the last vestiges of humanity are trapped between warring factions and an evolving undead threat.
No word on if the script is being updated as well, but the previous iteration is credited to Joe Knetter (Blind), Robert Lucas, and Paolo Zelati, based on Romero’s story.
Deadline noted, “The producers previously told us they haven’t closed the door on the possibility of additional movies in a new franchise should this new one go well.”
Magenta Light Studios (Strange Darling, Deep Water) has secured the North American rights and is due to distribute the film in theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
Suzanne Romero, Romero’s widow, will produce alongside Roundtable Entertainment’s John Baldecchi & Sarah Donnelly, Magenta Light’s Bob Yari, SSS Entertainment’s Shaun Sanghani, and Aanaxion’s Kenneth Kim, Ho Sung Pak, & George Furla.
Executive producers include Roundtable’s Dominic Ianno, Alex Dundas, & Jason Resnick, Stephanie Caleb, Josh Kagan, Sean Carey, Stu Snyder, Hakim Bangash, Victor Ianno, Streamline Global’s Emily Hunter Salveson, Jamie Thompson, Brian Skiba, Jeff Elliott, Aanaxion’s Bong-Seob Mun, Bang-Ok Joo. Young-Joo Ji, Sung-Il Ahn, & Kwang Jin Kim, and The Syndicate’s Jeffrey Giles & Michael Lurie.
“Stepping into Romero’s world is the ultimate privilege for any genre filmmaker,” the Paz Brothers said in a joint statement. “This is more than a continuation; it’s a responsibility. We are committed to honoring his voice while delivering a visceral, terrifying, impactful experience for today’s audience that resonates beyond the screen.”
“We’re thrilled to have Kate Beckinsale starring in Twilight of the Dead,” added Baldecchi. “Her extraordinary talent, emotional range, and commanding screen presence make her the perfect actress to lead a final chapter worthy of George’s legacy.”
“George Romero is one of the most successful and influential creatives in the horror and genre space, and his final film deserves to be experienced on the big screen,” commented Yari. “We’re proud to partner with his estate and the filmmakers to bring Twilight of the Dead to audiences. As a standout addition to Magenta Light Studios’ growing film catalog, we are committed to delivering a thrilling theatrical experience for fans who have been waiting years for this conclusion.”
Twilight of the Dead was first revealed in 2021. Anderson boarded the project in 2023, with Jovovich and Betty Gabriel announced to star in 2024.
The Syndicate is launching the project at the Cannes film market, currently underway.
Sunrise Films has announced the official North American release of William Bagley‘s horror comedy Hold the Fort, and it’s accompanied by an energetic new trailer.
Hold the Fort debuts on digital platforms on June 23.
In the film, “Lucas and Jenny think their life is finally coming together when the couple become homeowners. Little do they know that their new house comes with a big catch. Lucas and Jenny soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when they become trapped in a battle between their Homeowners Association and an onslaught of monsters from hell. The horror-comedy takes the timely concern of home-ownership and wraps this up in an entertaining action-packed thrill ride.“
Watch the new trailer below, which introduces one wild HOA gathering during an equinox. Things get bloody fast.
Chris Mayers (Adult Swim Yule Log), Haley Leary (“The Walking Dead”), Levi Burdick, and Julian Smith star.
William Bagley writes and directs, in addition to producing with Smith, Matt Dodd, Luke Williams, and Tim Reis (Adult Swim Yule Log).
Ahead of the release, Bagley said, “My goal with this film was to make a hilarious, fast-paced thrill ride while also telling a great story with heart. Hopefully, through all the blood, laughs, fights, and gags, you leave the film feeling inspired to tackle whatever life throws at you.“
Hold the Fort premiered at Fantasia last summer before going on to play FrightFest London, Toronto After Dark, and Beyond Fest.
I wrote in my review, “It’s an infectiously charming assemblage of jokes and monster vignettes bound together by a barebones plot with not much on its mind beyond delivering an entertaining time.”
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