Marvel Zombies (miniseries)

*Marvel Zombies*
Marvel Zombies
Genre	Horror; Superhero; Zombie apocalypse;
Created by	Zeb Wells
Based on	Marvel Zombies; by Robert Kirkman; Sean Phillips;
Written by	Zeb Wells
Directed by	Bryan Andrews
Starring	Iman Vellani
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Zeb Wells; Victoria Alonso; Louis D'Esposito; Kevin Feige; Brad Winderbaum;
Production company	Marvel Studios Animation
Original release
Network	Disney+
Related
	What If...?; Marvel Cinematic Universe television series;

Marvel Zombies is an upcoming American animated television miniseries created by Zeb Wells for the streaming service Disney+, based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name. It is intended to be one of the television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios Animation, and explores an alternate timeline in the multiverse introduced in the What If...? episode "What If... Zombies?!" (2021) in which a group of survivors must fight former heroes and villains who are now zombies. Wells serves as head writer and Bryan Andrews directs.

Iman Vellani voices Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel, reprising the role from prior MCU media. Marvel Studios was developing several animated series in addition to What If...? by June 2021, including a spin-off series continuing the events of "What If... Zombies?!". Marvel Zombies was announced in November, along with the involvement of Wells and Andrews.

Marvel Zombies is set to debut on Disney+, and will consist of four episodes.

Premise

Continuing from the events of the What If...? episode "What If... Zombies?!", a group of survivors must fight former heroes and villains who are now zombies.^[1]

Cast and characters

Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel: A teenage human-mutant from Jersey City who wears a magical bangle that unlocked her ability to harness cosmic energy and create hard light constructs. Vellani noted that Khan was central to the series, with the creators describing her role as "the Frodo of the story".^[2]

Production

Development

By June 2021, Marvel Studios Animation was developing a slate of at least three more series in addition to their Disney+ series What If...?.^[3]^[4]^[5] The next month, these were said to be in various stages of development and were not expected to debut until at least 2023.^[6] A Marvel Zombies animated series was announced during the Disney+ Day event in November 2021,^[7] based on the Marvel Comics series of the same name.^[8] Bryan Andrews returned as director from What If...? and Zeb Wells was set as head writer and executive producer.^[7] Wells previously served as a writer for the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022) and the film The Marvels (2023).^[9] The series is a continuation of the zombie-infested alternate timeline that was introduced in the What If...? episode "What If... Zombies?!",^[10] exploring more of the mythology established in the episode;^[11] Marvel Studios began development on the spin-off after a positive fan response to that episode and its cliffhanger ending.^[1] The company revealed in July 2022 that Marvel Zombies would be its first animated series to be rated TV-MA so it could feature all the "gore and splatter you want from a zombie show".^[12]^[13] The series consists of four episodes.^[14] Marvel Studios' Brad Winderbaum also serves as an executive producer.^[15]^: 22^{[needs update]} During Marvel Studios Animation's panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel Zombies and the other projects discussed were introduced as being part of the "Marvel Animated Multiverse".^[16]

Writing

Andrews explained that even though many of the deaths in the series are "rough", there was humor and levity mixed in with the action, drama, and emotion.^[17]

Casting and voice recording

In July 2022, the series was confirmed to feature alternate versions of characters from the MCU, including Yelena Belova / Black Widow, Katy, Kate Bishop, Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian, Jimmy Woo, Death Dealer, Shang-Chi,^[1] and Kamala Khan / Ms. Marvel (Iman Vellani).^[1]^[2] Zombies in the series include Clint Barton / Hawkeye, Steve Rogers / Captain America, Emil Blonsky / Abomination, Ava Starr / Ghost, Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch, Carol Danvers / Captain Marvel, Ikaris, and Okoye.^[1] In November 2023, Vellani confirmed that she had completed her voice work for the series.^[2]

Marketing

The series was discussed during Marvel Studios Animation's panel at the 2022 San Diego Comic-Con, when artwork of the characters was revealed.^[1]

Release

Marvel Zombies is set to debut on Disney+, and will consist of four episodes.^[14] In January 2024, Andrews stated he was unsure when the series would release, revealing that the release was continually shifting,^[18]^{: 51:00–51:08} and is currently undated.^[19] It was previously expected to release in 2024.^[12]