Back in 2021, it was revealed that the legendary George A. Romero (who passed away in 2017) had left behind a treatment for the “seventh and final installment” in his Dead franchise – following Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead. The story Romero had come up with used a title than many fans expected him to use for his follow-up to Day, Twilight of the Dead, and the team of Joe Knetter, Robert Lucas, and Paolo Zelati, who also worked on the treatment with Romero, were working on fleshing it out into a screenplay. This one has been taking the long road to production, but now it has taken a big step forward, as Deadline reports that Kate Beckinsale of the Underworld franchise has signed on to star in the film!
New Cast and Directors
Of course, this isn’t the first time an actor has signed on for the lead role. Two years ago, we heard that Twilight of the Dead had secured funding from Roundtable Entertainment, and Session 9 director Brad Anderson signed on to helm the film soon after. Anderson cast Resident Evil star Milla Jovovich in the lead role, and she was set to be joined in the cast by Betty Gabriel (Get Out).
Then the project ran into financial trouble.
Greg Nicotero, who got his special effects career started on the Romero classic Day of the Dead and went on to work with Romero on several more projects (including Land of the Dead, Diary of the Dead, and Survival of the Dead), will be handling the FX on Twilight of the Dead and has said that this will be a “full circle” moment in his career.
When asked for a status update during an interview with Slasher Radio seven months ago, Nicotero said, “The interesting thing about George’s universe is, the zombies evolve. … This continues that intention, which I think is really interesting and unlike any other zombie stuff that’s out there. It’s very different. I’ve had a bunch of meetings with the director, we did some designs, and we’re sort of waiting for them to secure the rest of their financing.“
Deadline reports that Twilight of the Dead “has recently undergone a facelift with new cast, director and financiers.” So not only are Jovovich and Gabriel out, with Beckinsale stepping in, but Anderson has also been replaced at the helm
The new directors are the Paz Brothers, Doron and Yoav Paz, whose movies include Jeruzalem, The Golem, and Plan A. Ho Sung Pak (Bullet Train) will be directing the stunt and action sequences.
What is Twilight of the Dead about?
Set on a tropical island, Twilight of the Dead will “delve into the dark nature of humanity from the perspective of the last humans on earth who are caught between factions of the undead.” Like the previous Dead films, it has been described as a “thought-provoking sociopolitical commentary wrapped in a genre piece.”
The film is being produced by the Roundtable Entertainment team, led by producers John Baldecchi and Sarah Donnelly with executive producer and Roundtable President, Dominic Ianno, and in partnership with Suzanne Romero. Producers include Bob Yari, Shaun Sanghani of SSS Entertainment, and Aanaxion’s Kenneth Kim, Ho Sung Pak and George Furla. Executive producers include Stephanie Caleb, Roundtable’s Alex Dundas and Jason Resnick, Josh Kagan, Sean Carey, Stu Snyder, Hakim Bangash, Victor Ianno, Streamline Global’s Emily Hunter Salveson, Jamie Thompson, Brian Skiba, Jeff Elliott, and Aanaxion’s Bong-Seob Mun, Bang-Ok Joo. Young-Joo Ji, Sung-Il Ahn, and Kwang Jin Kim.
Magenta Light Studios has secured the North American rights and will distribute the film in theatres across the U.S. and Canada. International sales are being handled by The Syndicate, with executive producers Jeffrey Giles and Michael Lurie representing the project at the Cannes market. Buyers will be able to read a screenplay and see concept materials.
What has been said about Twilight of the Dead?
Baldecchi said, “We’re thrilled to have Kate Beckinsale starring in Twilight of the Dead. Her extraordinary talent, emotional range, and commanding screen presence make her the perfect actress to lead a final chapter worthy of George’s legacy.“
Bob Yari, CEO of Magenta Light Studios, added: “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. 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.“
And the Paz Brothers provided the following statement: “Stepping into Romero’s world is the ultimate privilege for any genre filmmaker. 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.“
What do you think of Kate Beckinsale signing on to star in Twilight of the Dead, with the Paz Brothers directing? Share your thoughts on this one by leaving a comment below.
The comment section exists to allow readers to discuss the article constructively and respectfully, focused on the topic at hand.
What’s Not Allowed