Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly Pass the Torch in ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires
When the Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES premiered in 2018, no one anticipated just how far it would go! It ranked No. 1 among Kids 6–11 and Tweens 9–14, sparking a wildly popular franchise.
Today, fans have two animated series, chart-topping soundtracks, and an upcoming interactive concert tour. ZOMBIES has become a worldwide sensation, and it’s not done yet.
Photo: Variety
The story continues with the arrival of ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires. The new movie premiered on Thursday, July 10, on Disney Channel and will be available on Disney+ on July 11.
Before the next chapter takes off, original stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly (both reprising their roles as Zed and Addison and producers) reflect on the franchise’s continued success and more.
Zombies Success
When asked what made the movie so successful, Meg Donnelly shared:
I think it’s the music, the dancing, and the message. 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.
Photo: Disney
Milo Manheim agreed:
A lot of factors go into it, but I think it’s the people. 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.
New Rivals, New Heroes
In ZOMBIES 4, Zed and Addison go on a summer trip with friends Eliza and Willa, but an unexpected detour introduces them to a new rivalry between Vampires and Daywalkers.
Zombies 4. Photo: Disney
Freya Skye joins the cast as Nova, a Daywalker who can harness sunlight. Fans also meet Malachi Barton, who plays Victor, a Vampire from Shadyside with the power of wind. Their connection mirrors the original spark between Zed and Addison and intentionally draws on that nostalgia, a move that felt like a passing of the torch for Milo and Meg.
“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.”
A New Soundtrack
The new film is also accompanied by an amazng new soundtrack featuring nine original tracks and two reprises of iconic songs: “Ain’t No Doubt About It” and “Someday.”
Disney
Among the favorites? “Show the World.”
“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.”
Photo: Disney
Be sure to check out the new movie and the new music! Stay tuned and follow along with us at MickeyBlog to stay updated on this and all things Disney.
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Feature Photo/Article Source: Walt Disney Company
