More Brains: New ‘Return of the Living Dead’ Zombie Film in Works for Christmas 2025

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As a fan who has spent countless nights huddled under blankets, clutching flashlights, and peering into the dark corners of my living room during screenings of “Return of the Living Dead,” this news is like Christmas come early! Forty years since the original film’s release, it feels surreal to know that we’re getting a brand new installment.

The living dead are ready to make a big return next year.

It’s been announced that a new “Return of the Living Dead” movie is scheduled for release in 2025, commemorating the 40th anniversary of the original 1985 horror film classic. This news comes from Living Dead Media and its CEO Steve Wolsh who have shared details about the project and released a holiday-themed trailer to generate excitement. The recently unveiled clip, which was dropped on Friday the 13th, showcases the iconic Tarman character wandering in a snowy cemetery while pulling a Christmas tree. Accompanied by a version of “Silent Night”, the teaser effectively announces that the film is slated for release during the holiday season of 2025.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t contain my excitement! According to a recent press release I got my hands on, Living Dead Media has confirmed that the upcoming project isn’t a reboot but a fresh chapter in our cherished horror-comedy series. This new installment is set in a quaint Pennsylvania town during Christmas of 1985, 18 months after the harrowing events portrayed in the original film. Directed by Dan O’Bannon, that movie told the chilling tale of two clumsy Uneeda Medical Supply workers who accidentally unleashed a lethal gas into the atmosphere, causing the dead to rise as zombies and infecting the entire town, ultimately dooming its fate.

Director Wolsh, scripting his own storyline, describes this project as a fresh “journey” that he envisions as an expansion of the franchise’s enduring legacy. Regarding the teaser, it was disclosed that it was filmed using real-world effects on location without relying on CGI or green screens. The cemetery was designed to honor Resurrection Cemetery from the original, and Wolsh, a dedicated fan and guardian of the zombie realm, expresses his excitement about capturing practical snow effects swirling against the backdrop of the night sky using anamorphic lenses. He promises that viewers will be astounded by witnessing an entire film crafted in this manner.

This franchise currently consists of five movies, with the initial film released in 1985. Following this, there were sequels such as “Return of the Living Dead II” in 1988 by Ken Wiederhorn, “Return of the Living Dead III” in 1993 under Brian Yuzna’s direction, “Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis” from Ellory Elkayem in 2005, and “Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave,” also directed by Elkayem, also in 2005. In all these productions, Tom Fox either produced or served as an executive producer. For the upcoming installment, his son, Christopher W. Fox, will take on the role of executive producer.

Other details the team confirmed: Special effects veteran Tony Gardner (Zombieland, Hocus Pocus 2, Chucky) has been tapped to establish the zombie look for 2025’s Return of the Living Dead. “[To be able to] up the horror, but be true to its roots, I feel like I’m the perfect person for the job,” he said in a statement. “And I’m really excited.”

Further information regarding our creative team and production timeline is set to be unveiled within the following months.

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2024-12-13 20:25