Brad Anderson (Session 9, The Machinist, Blood) is officially at the helm to direct Twilight of the Dead, the last project in development by the late, great George A. Romero before his passing in 2017.
Twilight of the Dead, which was initially intended as a conclusion to the Night of the Living Dead franchise started in 1968, was produced and financed by multi-platform production company Roundtable Entertainment who recently announced a partnership with the Romero estate to bring the zombie horror to the screen.
In a statement, Anderson expressed his love for Romero's legacy and his excitement at joining the series:
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. This unexpected combination is what elevated George’s films, and for me it is exactly what is most exciting about Twilight of the Dead.
Twilight of the Dead's screenplay was written by Joe Knetter, Robert Lucas, and Paolo Zelati. Plot details are still under wraps, but the film is said to “delve into the dark nature of humanity from the perspective of the last humans on earth who are caught between factions of the undead.”
Famously, the Night of the Living Dead franchise has always tackled social and cultural issues through horror, and Anderson has no intention to change that:
This too is a zombie movie in which limbs fly and heads roll, but one that is also about social transformation, one that asks the question: What is it to be human? 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.
More on Twilight of the Dead as and when we get it - needless to say we'll be following this one VERY closely!
