Six years after George Romero passed away, the treatment he wrote for his final zombie film “Twilight of the Dead” is finally moving into production…
George Romero — the godfather of the modern zombie film — will have his final movie made posthumously with “Twilight of the Dead” expected to go into production before the end of 2023.
Romero, who passed away in 2017, had already written a treatment for what he was reportedly considering his seventh and final “Dead” film after he effectively launched the zombie craze with his 1968 classic “Night of the Living Dead.” Following the success of that film, Romero returned with five more zombie movies including “Dawn of the Dead,” “Day of the Dead,’ “Land of the Dead,” “Diary of the Dead” and “Survival of the Dead,” which was released in 2009.
The new film is touted as “the seventh and final installment of the seminal Living Dead film franchise,” will be written by Paolo Zelati, Joe Knetter, and Robert Lucas. Zelati had worked on the original treatment for the film alongside Romero prior to his death.
“Twilight of the Dead” will take place on a tropical island and the film 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.”
The film is being produced by Roundtable Entertainment along with Romero’s wife Suzanne, who handles her late husband’s estate.
“I’m delighted to be joining forces with Roundtable to bring the eerie evolution of Romero’s universe to the screen,” Suzanne Romero said in a statement. “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!”
Due to the ongoing actor’s strike, no one has been cast in the upcoming film, although the plan is to go into production before the end of 2023. According to reports, the film will seek an interim agreement with SAG-AFTRA — the actor’s union — to potentially move forward with production as an independent studio.
Of course, Romero was considered the person most singularly responsible for building the zombie genre with writers and directors like “The Walking Dead” creator Robert Kirkman and “Shaun of the Dead” director Edgar Wright crediting him for inspiration.
There’s no word yet when “Twilight of the Dead” might land in theaters.
