Z-O-M-B-I-E-S (franchise)

**Z-O-M-B-I-E-S** is a three-movie science-fiction/supernatural-drama/musical franchise on the Disney Channel. The original premiered in 2018 to massive tween audiences. It was directed by Paul Hoen with music by George S. Clinton and Amit May Cohen. The cast reunites for two additional sequels.

The plot largely centers on the romance between Zed, a zombie, and Addison, a half-human/half-alien cheerleader. The two, and their friends, endure a number of threats to their fragile alliance at Seabrook High. The second film begins after a groundbreaking semester at the school, as a new group of outsiders — mysterious werewolves — threaten the campus' newfound unity and cause a rift between Zed and Addison.

Based on the book *Zombies & Cheerleaders* by David Light and Joseph Raso, the films follow the same plot.

## Film series

### *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S* (2018)

Main article: *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S*

***Zombies*** is an American musical and fantasy Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered on Disney Channel on February 16, 2018. The film is based on *Zombies & Cheerleaders* by David Light and Joseph Raso, and stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, playing zombie football player Zed and human cheerleader Addison who meet and fall in love, and who must lead their respective groups to coexist with each other. A sequel, *Zombies 2*, premiered on Disney Channel on February 14, 2020. A third and final film was green-lighted in 2021.

Production on the film began in May 2017. The film was shot in Toronto over 10 weeks.

### *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2* (2020)

Main article: *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2*

***Zombies 2*** is an American Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered on Disney Channel on February 14, 2020. The film is a sequel to the 2018 Disney Channel Original Movie *Zombies*, and stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly.

### *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3* (2022)

Main article *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3*

A third film, titled *Zombies 3*, was announced in March 2021, with filming set to take place in Toronto in spring. It premiered on July 15 2022 on Disney+ and is a sequel to the 2020 Disney Channel Original Movie *Zombies 2,* and stars Milo Manhiem and Meg Donnelly

***Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 4*** **(2025)**

Main article *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 4*

A fourth film titled *Zombies 4*, was announced on November 23rd 2023, with filming set to take place in Auckland in Spring.

## Spin-offs

### Animated spin-off

Main article: *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S: Addison's Moonstone Mystery*

“*I need to find my missing piece.*”
―Addison Wells in the introduction
***Zombies: Addison's Moonstone Mystery*** is a series of animated shorts based on the Disney Channel Original Movie, *Zombies*. It premiered on October 16, 2020 on Disney Channel. The series takes place after *Zombies 2*. The second season was confirmed by Disney thanks to the very positive ratings and fan requests.

### Prequel Spin-off

Main article: *Wolf Tales*

Wolf Tales is a series of shorts revolving around Addison, Willa, Wyatt, and Wynter. The series takes place somewhere in *Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2,* possibly before or after Call to the Wild was performed*.* It's a mix of animation and live-action scenes.

## Junior novelization

A junior novelization of the film Z-O-M-B-I-E-S was published in 2018, the year of the movies' release.

## Trivia

* In the book(s), the Aceys didn't exist.
* The franchise was originally planned as a Disney Channel TV series.
* Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2 was the final DCOM released before the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.
* Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 3 is the only movie in the movie trilogy that is not a DCOM.