Zombie film legend, George A. Romero was interviewed at the Lund International Fantastic Film Festival in Sweden by Twitchfilm, where he mentioned a little tid-bit about writing a secret book for Marvel Comics. Apparently the book does not involve any of their superheroes, so “Marvel Zombies” is off the list, but he promises it will involve zombies. He refused to comment any more on the project, but you can bet we’ll be digging.
These are the only quotes he’d give on the project:
ROMERO – I am also writing a comic for Marvel. I’m writing it now, but it’s plot is a secret.
TWITCH – Awww c’mon George, just a little nibble? A tid bit?
ROMERO – Well I can tell you it won’t involve any of their on-going characters, there will be no superheroes. But it will involve zombies!
I’m not usually a comic reader, well…unless they’re horror comics, but this is definitely something I’ll have to check out. I can only imagine the freedom he’d have in the comic format as opposed to having to deal with producers telling him what he can and can’t do. Exciting!
THEY’RE YOU. THEY’RE US. THEY’RE EVERYWHERE…THEY’RE ALL MESSED UP…THEY’RE DEAD. DOC OF THE DEAD is the definitive zombie culture documentary and speculative chronicle of the Zombie Apocalypse. The film features appearances by Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) and the Grandfather of Zombie-dom, George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead). Others planned for the film include author Max Brooks (World War Z, soon to be a major motion picture starring Brad Pitt), Greg Nicotero (Executive Producer and make-up FX “The Walking Dead”), Charlie Adlard (Artist, The Walking Dead), Mick Garris (Stephen King’s “The Shining,” and “The Stand”), Steve Barton (Never Sleep Again, Hatchet II, Survival of the Dead, “Paranormal Paparazzi”), Alan Jones (Frightfest), and many more!
The Zombie Apocalypse seems to be on everybody’s lips these days. Should we categorize it as fiction, dismiss it as far-fetched paranoia, or speculate about it as a plausible scenario? Doc of the Dead is brought to the screen by the creators of the groundbreaking participatory and award-winning The People vs. George Lucas – Director Alexandre O. Philippe, Director of Photography/Producer Robert Muratore, and Producer Kerry Deignan Roy. It’s co-hosted by Geekscape’s own Jonathan London and Red Letter Media’s infamous Mr. Plinkett (The Phantom Menace review), who will be sitting in his basement, far away from all the chaos.
Doc of the Dead delves deep into the myriad crevasses of zombie culture to deliver the first ever in-depth look at a contemporary social pandemic of global proportions. Shot and edited in a cinematically edgy, high-octane style, it will host a rich and entertaining dialogue with zombie experts and celebrities, seek participation from YouTubers and indie filmmakers, and examine viral cultural trends to explore the possibility and ramifications of an actual zombie outbreak with sociologists, virologists, chemists, and members of the Zombie Research Society.
In short, this is the film that zombie fans across the globe have been secretly waiting for; and because reality is scarier than fiction, prepare to be utterly and positively FREAKED OUT! And remember – always aim for the head.
Doc of the Dead is written and directed by Alexandre O. Philippe and produced by DoP Robert Muratore and Kerry Deignan Roy.
No reader of Backwoods Horror should be unfamiliar with Tom Savini’s work. Garnering at one time the Godfather of Gore, the King of Splatter, his special makeup effects work spans a great deal of the horror films we grew up with. FRIDAY THE 13th, FRIDAY THE 13th PART IV, DAWN OF THE DEAD, DAY OF THE DEAD, MARTIN, MANIAC, THE PROWLER, the list goes on and on. Something of a renaissance man of the film industry, though he’s known for his effects work, he’s also an accomplished stunt man, director, and actor. You name it, he’s done it. And now, finally, a documentary has been made about this incredible man.
Having succeeded with raising a few bucks with their kickstarter campaign, Jason Baker and MIJO Films present SMOKE AND MIRRORS: THE STORY OF TOM SAVINI, a film that delves into his early life, career, and legacy by not only interviewing the man himself, but everyone he’s worked with throughout the years, featuring interviews with Academy Award winning special effects make-up artists Greg Nicotero and Howard Berger of KNB EFX, Video Watchdog founder and film critic Tim Lucas, The Misfits’ Jerry Only, and legendary filmmaker George A. Romero among others…people who have considered him a lifelong friend. For those of you lucky enough to be at the Montreal Comic Con Horrorfest, Baker will be debuting the film on Saturday, September 15th, at 10:15pm with Tom, the man himself, in attendance. I am so incredibly excited that someone has finally made a documentary about a man whose artistry has changed the course of horror films forever and I can’t wait to see it.
I was lucky enough to meet Tom Savini in Asheville, NC at a small lecture he was giving about his career in makeup and special effects to a theater class at UNCA. I wasn’t a part of the class and so was not allowed to attend as there were only 12 or 13 seats, but he came walking out of the room before the lecture and saw me standing there with my EVIL DEAD t-shirt on and began talking to me about what an awesome film it was. Then he introduced himself, as did I while also telling him I knew exactly who he was and what a fan I was of him and his work but wasn’t allowed to attend the lecture. Not only did he get me in, and right at the front row, but he signed my copies of his Grande Illusions books, A rare DAWN OF THE DEAD poster book, and was nice enough to take a photo with me. He’s an incredible man who has done some incredible work both behind and in front of the camera, and this documentary has been a long time coming.
According to Screen Daily, Exhibit A Pictures, the outfit behind THE PEOPLE VS. GEORGE LUCAS are currently working on a documentary that will explore zombies in-depth in all their film incarnations.
Director Alexandre O Philippe has revealed that he is already at work on DOC OF THE DEAD, a thorough new film that will explore zombies on screen in all their manifestations. Shooting is currently underway. Philippe has already spoken to SHAUN OF THE DEAD’s Simon Pegg for the film and is shortly to interview zombie guru George Romero (NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, DAWN OF THE DEAD, DAY OF THE DEAD, etc.) on camera.
It’s no secret that we here at Backwoods Horror are zombie marks (even checking out the shittiest zombie flicks ever made…like the DAY OF THE DEAD REMAKE.), and there have been various documentaries focusing on particular zombie films, and even one or two documentaries about zombies in general, but nothing that has really gone in depth and explored zombies from the very beginning and given the subgenre the respect it deserves. Fingers crossed, this will be the one.
Last Halloween, a short demo for the game Zombie Squash was released to high praise and fan response by ACW Games owner and a former Fangoria writer Attila Juhasz. Two years in development, Juhasz is preparing to release the full version of the game this Halloween for PC and Mac. The game takes place in a world where a mad scientist named Dr. Beau E. Vil, voiced by the legendary godfather of Zombies George A. Romero, has turned formerly benign squash and other gourds into violent, zombie fiends bent on death and destruction. Players take on the character of an ass kicking rabbit by the name of Jack Stompingtail who, with an arsenal of projectile carrots, zucchinis and other garden-derived ammo, goes on a quest to stop the Zombie Squash from taking over the world.
From Fango (be sure to check out their exclusive trailer for the game here):
“I started developing ZOMBIE SQUASH two years ago,” says Juhasz, ACW Games owner and a former Fango scribe, “and released a short demo last Halloween, and the reactions have been outstanding.” Response was strong enough that Juhasz signed not only Romero to voice his villain, but music producer Roy Z. (Sepultura, Yngwie Malmsteen, Sebastian Bach) to co-write and produce the soundtrack and world-renowned illustrator Marc Sasso to create characters and the official cover. Next week, ACW will announce a ZOMBIE SQUASH Kickstarter campaign, offering rewards to backers that will include access to Beta releases, full DRM-free copies of the game, T-shirts, CDs, sponsorship and associate producer opportunities and more. An official press release will be out next week with more details; in the meantime, you can visit the game’s official website.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn’t properly wish Uncle George a very happy 70th Birthday on Wednesday. So, for George, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Here’s some video Q&A Footage from the Rue Morgue Festival Of Fear (and some viddy at the bottom from my brief introduction to the man). We here at BACKWOODS HORROR LOVE ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND DETERMINATION. He is not only a pioneer in horror filmmaking, or zombie filmmaking, but filmmaking in general. He is a credit to the independent soul of the true filmmaking artist. Cheers!
George A. Romero Q&A
Dario Argento and George A. Romero Q&A
Meeting him myself at a local comic shop HEROES. Friggin’ awesome!
Magnet is going to be releasing George A. Romero’s SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD on Video on Demand this April 30th, to be followed with a limited (of course) theatrical release on May 28th. Magnet Releasing is a division of Magnolia Pictures.
I wish they’d show Romero a little more love. Hell, I wish they’d show ME a little more love. Limited theatrical run means I probably won’t get to feast my bloodshot, horror-lovin’ eyes on the flick in theaters. DAMNIT!!!
George A. Romero’s new zombie epic, formerly titled …OF THE DEAD, has now received the title SURVIVAL OF THE DEAD. The film will be premiering at the TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. For pics from the flick, check out TIFF’s page for the film HERE!
Survival of the Dead follows a war-weary band of soldiers who are lured to a remote island that promises to be the last paradise on earth, only to discover that even here there is no escape from the appetites of either the living or the dead.
Says Romero, “We’re in the final stages of post-production and it’s great to come up for air and find out the film’s been chosen to appear at the Festival. It’s just a terrific honor.”
Ok, took a look at the new ...OF THE DEAD trailer over at Fangoria (see below). What can I say… this movie looks like it’s going to blow as much as DIARRHEA OF THE DEAD . Come on Romero. I love ya, I really do…but…you know…this is starting to get embarrasing. Check the trailer to see what I mean. Looks like a Sci-Fi Original. Damn, I really was hoping for a return to form, some last hurrah, but this thing looks like ass. DAMN!
How could I have missed this? Check out the poster for the upcoming remake to THE CRAZIES:
I don’t really believe THE CRAZIES needs a remake necessarily, but the film DOES lend itself to that idea more than any other flick that’s been remade. Of course, saying that, this remake trend HAS TO FUCKING STOP! That is a pretty damn neat poster though. If it had the original font style from the original flick, I’d buy it and just pretend it was intended for the original. I wish it was Uncle George who was going behind the pen and the lens on this one. It’s probably going to blow.
