By Zach Johnson
When the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES premiered in 2018, it ranked No. 1 among Kids 6-11 and Tweens 9-14* and spawned a global franchise that includes two animated series, two chart-topping soundtracks, and, soon, a one-of-a-kind interactive live concert experience with the cast of Descendants: The Rise of Red. But before the North American tour kicks off July 17 in San Diego, fans will be introduced to two new leads, Victor and Nova, when ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires debuts Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and streams globally the next day, Friday, July 11, on Disney+.
What's the secret to the ZOMBIES franchise's success?
"I think it's the music, the dancing, and the message," Meg Donnelly, who reprises her role as alien Addison and is an executive producer on the film, said. "There's a really strong message of acceptance, especially in ZOMBIES 4. It applies to kids and adults. It's a message we all learn, and I think ZOMBIES does a great job of explaining it with really fun, positive vibes."
"A lot of factors go into it, but I think it's the people," Milo Manheim, who returns as zombie Zed and is an executive producer on the film, added. "We have an amazing cast. The crew, the creative team, the production team — everybody is so happy to be making these movies. We took a really bold step in making the first movie; it was a very out of the box idea. It just makes people feel good. It's got such a positive message, and that created this huge, ZOMBIES universe."
Captivating Characters
In the first three ZOMBIES movies, Zed and Addison brought human and monster kind together in their hometown of Seabrook. In the fourth film, a summer road trip with their friends, zombie Eliza (Kylee Russell) and werewolf Willa (Chandler Kinney), takes an unexpected detour, landing them in the middle of a new rivalry: Daywalkers vs. Vampires.
ZOMBIES franchise newcomer Freya Skye plays Nova, a Daywalker who can harness the power of the sun. "She lives in perpetual day in Sunnyside," Skye explained. "Her dad is Commander Bright [Jonno Roberts], so she's next in line to be leader of the Daywalkers."
Malachi Barton — a Disney Channel vet who previously starred in Stuck in the Middle, the Under Wraps films, and The Villains of Valley View, among other projects — plays Victor, a Vampire who lives in Shadyside and can harness the power of the wind. "He is a very charismatic kid. He's super adventurous and always looking for the next experience," Barton explained. "He's so curious about what else the world has to offer, but he's been taught to stay in his Shadyside bubble. But once he meets Nova, he comes out of his shell a little bit."
Despite all odds, there is an invisible string tying Nova and Victor together — similar to the one that helped Seabrook's star-crossed couple Zed and Addison unite their people.
"I think the movie does that on purpose, to give ZOMBIES fans that nostalgia of Zed and Addison in the first movie," Donnelly said. "There are a lot of parallels with Victor and Nova, and that's what makes this movie so special. It's like we're passing the torch in a way."
Memorable Music
Now available from Walt Disney Records, the ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires soundtrack features nine original songs, including "Don't Mess with Us" and "The Place to Be," as well as two reprises of fan-favorite hits: "Ain't No Doubt About It" and "Someday."
Skye and Barton agreed "Show the World" is their favorite new number in the movie.
"It's a really happy song, and it summarizes everything the movie talks about," Skye said. "We were all together that day, so it was a really fun memory for us to all be together. Everyone's characters are happy — there's no kind of conflict — so it was a real fun one."
"It's a really big number. It's the closer. It's really hard to pick and choose a favorite, just because they all flow so well," Barton said. Referencing Skye's solo number, he added, "They all play a big part in their own way — or in 'My Own Way.' See what I did there?"
However, filming the "Ain't' No Doubt About It" reprise in New Zealand was "my singular favorite day of shooting anything ever," Manheim revealed. "Obviously, that song means a lot to us, but there was something very special about that day. The clouds parted, and it was just so beautiful. It was a moment for me and Meg to reflect on everything we've been through with this franchise, and it just felt like everything was leading up to that moment."