George A. Romero’s final zombie film, TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD, will live to see the light of day. Intended to be his last foray into the genre he largely created, TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD has been resurrected by Romero’s widow, Suzanne Romero, who has been quietly developing the script with the help of three screenwriters: Paolo Zelati — whom Romero collaborated with on his original treatment — Joe Knetter, and Robert L. Lucas.
Suzanne Romero had this to say about the project: “I gave [Zelati] my full blessing as long as I could be there every step of the way for it to remain true to George’s vision. We had a solid treatment and the beginning of the script. I can 100 percent say that George would be incredibly happy to see this continue. He wanted this to be his final stamp on the zombie genre.”
Just in Case: A Peek at the Original NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (2023)
Brad Anderson is set to direct George A. Romero’s final film, TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD, produced and financed by multi-platform production company Roundtable Entertainment. Roundtable recently announced a partnership with the Romero estate to bring the film to the screen.
Said Anderson: “George Romero’s 1968 classic Night of the Living Dead may have been the first real horror movie I ever saw and its shock value, its keen social relevance, and even the means by which it was made were all hugely inspirational to me.”
“George’s ‘indie spirit,’ his do-It-yourself approach to filmmaking – outside of the main industry, on a shoestring budget, collaborating with family and friends – is exactly how I made my first film, and, to some extent, still make films now. Night of the Living Dead, and many of those that followed, wove together straight up horror with pointed social commentary.”
More from Anderson: “This unexpected combination is what elevated Romero’s films, and, for me, it is exactly what is most exciting about TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD, though this too is grisly and gory, promising limbs flying and heads rolling, but one that is suppose to be about social transformation, begging the question: What is it to be human?”
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD graphic scene. No escape. © Copyright Coco Lin 2023
Oops! NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD graphic scene of getaway car going up in flames. © Copyright Coco Lin 2023
“It is also a horror movie with “heart” and, dare I say, hope. As a filmmaker who relishes combining and reinventing genres, the chance to bring to life (so to speak!) this last installment in George Romero’s zombie franchise is a true honor and a privilege.”
“Brad is the ideal filmmaker to bring this project to life. Both Brad and George began their careers in the independent film scene and have directed seminal movies in the genre space and beyond. Brad has had tremendous success both commercially and critically and Roundtable is thrilled to have him onboard to direct,” said John Baldecchi. “TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD is the seventh and final chapter of the Dead series and we think Brad is the perfect storyteller to bring this cinematic tale about the human condition to life.”
Produced by: Suzanne Romero, John Baldecchi, Ardvella Entertainment’s Stephanie Caleb, Paolo Zelati, and Sarah Donnelly, with Executive Producers Dominic Ianno, Alex Dundas, Jason Resnick, Chris Roe, and Luis Riefkohl. George A. Romero and Paolo Zelati penned the treatment, with the screenplay written by Joe Knetter, Robert Lucas, and Paolo Zelati.
Stephanie Holbrook is casting the film. While specifics are currently undisclosed, TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD plans to be in production later this year.
Roundtable Entertainment was launched in early 2022 by media executives Dominic Ianno, John Baldecchi, Griffin Gmelich, and Alex Dundas.
Shannon McGee can be reached at shannon.mcgee55@myhunter.cuny.edu