‘Return of the Living Dead’ Franchise Revived With Festive Sequel for 2025 Release

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As a lifelong horror enthusiast and someone who has witnessed the ebb and flow of the zombie genre, I am genuinely thrilled about the upcoming sequel to the iconic “Return of The Living Dead” franchise. Steve Wolsh’s commitment to practical effects and real locations is a breath of fresh air in an era where digital trickery often overshadows the raw, visceral power of these undead beasts.

These days, it’s brains that are needed to create an excellent zombie movie. Despite a resurgence in the horror genre during the early 2000s, zombies, known for their slow movements and hunger for flesh, have seen a decline in popularity recently. Steve Wolsh, a writer and director from Living Dead Media, is aiming to revitalize this trend with a festive twist on the Return of The Living Dead franchise. Although specifics about the project are still limited, Wolsh is putting together some intriguing elements for the production.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Wolsh revealed that the upcoming movie isn’t a reboot but rather a sequel to the 1985 original, helmed by Dan O’Bannon. He referred to this chapter as “a fresh journey.” Additionally, he confirmed that this film will rely on real-world effects and authentic locations instead of digital backdrops, a choice that some might argue has weakened the impact and raw intensity of the zombie genre in recent times. Wolsh hinted at the practical effects shown in the trailer as a sign of things to come in the final product, expressing:

With our wide-angle anamorphic lenses, we’ve managed to film breathtaking snow effects dancing against the backdrop of the night sky, creating a stunning appearance. The entire movie shot in this manner is sure to leave viewers spellbound.

The upcoming movie is set in a quaint Pennsylvania town during Christmas 1985, following the storyline of the original film. Two unfortunate workers unwittingly unleash a being that brings dead people back to life into the air, causing it to rain down on a graveyard and triggering the events depicted in the title. This franchise has spawned four sequels: “Return of the Living Dead Part II” (1988), “Return of the Living Dead 3” (1993), “Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis” and “Return of the Living Dead: Rave to the Grave,” both released in 2005.

The Cultural Power of Zombies

In a fresh take, the lumbering horde that was once rooted in Haitian folklore has now become a source of entertainment and social critique on the silver screen. Instead of a solitary masked killer symbolizing an underlying societal fear, zombie films serve as a reminder of the potent force of a unified collective. Topics such as racism, consumerism, capitalism, xenophobia, and other societal maladies have been vividly portrayed in these movies. Despite their decline in popularity during the latter half of the 2010s, recent entries into the genre like The Last of Us and Danny Boyle’s upcoming 28 Years Later have breathed new life into these creatures. As American wealth inequality approaches levels reminiscent of pre-French Revolution times, and our institutions erode at an alarming pace, it will be fascinating to observe how zombies mirror our concerns in modern media.

In terms of production, they’ve enlisted the expertise of seasoned makeup and special effects artist Tony Gardner, known for his work on Zombieland, Army of Darkness, and The Blob, to animate the dead for the upcoming movie. This film is set to hit theaters during Christmas 2025.

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2024-12-14 01:31