Twilight of the Dead has undergone an exceptionally long gestation (since 2021), as is often the case in Hollywood when rights and funding block progress, but at last the film, presented as the “final chapter” of George A. Romero‘s zombie saga and born from a treatment developed with his friend, Italian critic and collector Paolo Zelati, exists. Deadline announces the completion of filming, which wrapped last month in Kentucky, with Zelati also credited as a producer. This brings us great pleasure, given that we have followed its journey since Romero’s passing in 2017, about a year after we met him at the Lucca Film Festival, not knowing at the time that would be our last encounter. Originally touted with Milla Jovovich as the lead, the project ultimately cast Kate Beckinsale opposite Betty Gabriel, Abigail London, and John D. Hickman. The special effects are handled by the renowned Greg Nicotero, with direction by the siblings Doron and Yoav Paz, while veteran stuntman Ho Sung Pak oversaw the action sequences.
Twilight of the Dead: The Legacy of George A. Romero
When the legendary creator of modern zombies, George A. Romero, passed away, rumors of possible sequels to his legacy quickly circulated, yet this remains the sole project officially authorized by his heirs (among the producers is also the director’s wife, Suzanne), precisely because the treatment bears his signature. In the end, this story, to which our Paolo Zelati also contributed as a writer, truly echoes Romero’s voice and his intention to provide a fitting conclusion to the saga. Honestly, we cannot wait to see it, given how sharp Romero was in his critique of series like The Walking Dead, of subsequent character developments, and even of his own later films within the franchise. The existence of Twilight of the Dead stands as a tribute to the passion and determination of those who sought to create a film without the backing of a major studio, persevering through hardship to complete it, hoping that the final result would meet expectations.
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