Filming wraps on Twilight of the Dead, final chapter of Romero's zombie saga
Filming has finished on Twilight of the Dead, a posthumous conclusion to George A. Romero's Dead series starring Kate Beckinsale and Betty Gabriel. Deadline reported the wrap; The A.V. Club questioned whether the project can succeed without Romero.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Filming has wrapped on Twilight of the Dead, described as the "final chapter" of George A. Romero's zombie saga, Deadline reported in an exclusive. DeadlineN “EXCLUSIVE: Filming has wrapped on Twilight of the Dead, the long gestating “final chapter” of George A. Romero’s classic zombie saga.” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “Per Deadline, Twilight Of The Dead has wrapped filming” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Centre · 1Kate Beckinsale stars alongside Betty Gabriel (Get Out), newcomer Abigail London and John D. Hickman (Becky). According to Deadline, filming took place in Kentucky and ended last month. DeadlineN “Underworld star Kate Beckinsale stars alongside genre regular Betty Gabriel (Get Out), newcomer Abigail London and John D. Hickman (Becky).”“Filming took place in Kentucky and wrapped last month.” Read at Deadline ↗ Centre · 1The Paz Brothers, Doron and Yoav Paz, directed, and Ho Sung Pak directed stunt and action sequences. Greg Nicotero, who worked with Romero on Day of the Dead, handled the special effects. DeadlineN “The Paz Brothers, Doron and Yoav Paz, whose movies include The Golem and Plan A, directed.”“Greg Nicotero, the legendary Walking Dead make-up effects supervisor and director who also worked with Romero on Day Of The Dead, handled all the special effects.” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2Romero wrote a treatment with Paolo Zelati before he died in 2017. Deadline says the project has the Romero estate's buy-in, and The A.V. Club reports that his widow, Suzanne Romero, gave Zelati her "full blessing" on condition she be involved throughout. DeadlineN “Horror icon Romero had written a treatment for the movie before he passed in 2017” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “gave Zelati her “full blessing as long as [she] could be there every step of the way for it to remain true to George’s vision,”” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Centre · 1Bob Yari's Magenta Light Studios has North American rights and is due to release it in U.S. and Canadian theaters, while The Syndicate handles international sales. No release date was given. DeadlineN “Bob Yari’s Magenta Light Studios has North American rights and is due to distribute the film in theaters across the U.S. and Canada. The Syndicate handles international sales.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The A.V. Club says the film is a direct sequel to Land of the Dead, skipping Diary of the Dead (2007) and Survival of the Dead (2009). It was first revealed in 2021 and was originally to be directed by Brad Anderson, then delayed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Milla Jovovich left the cast before Beckinsale joined. The A.V. ClubLC “The film is described as a direct sequel to Land Of The Dead, leapfrogging Romero’s final two zombie movies, 2007’s Diary Of The Dead and 2009’s Survival Of The Dead.”“Originally to be directed by Session 9 filmmaker Brad Anderson, the film was delayed by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ DeadlineN “Twilight Of The Dead was first revealed in 2021.” Read at Deadline ↗
Mixed · 2Deadline adds that the producers have not ruled out more films in a new franchise if this one does well. The A.V. Club is skeptical, calling the project a "no-win situation" and noting Zelati's limited writing credits and the filmmakers' low profile. DeadlineN “The producers previously told us they haven’t closed the door on the possibility of additional movies in a new franchise should this new one go well.” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “Even with Nicotero aboard, Twilight looks like a no-win situation.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Culture commentary that relays Deadline's news and questions whether the film can live up to Romero's legacy.
- Emphasis
- Production history, Zelati's credentials, and the risk of continuing Romero's work without him.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits distribution details, filming location and most of the producers.
- Charged language
- “no-win situation”“rises from grave”
- For example
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“It’s a risk to conclude his most famous and lauded series with a group of filmmakers few have heard of” — The A.V. Club
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Trade-news exclusive announcing the wrap, with a full list of cast, crew, producers and distributors.
- Emphasis
- Cast, crew, rights and the estate's involvement.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little on production history or doubts about the project.
- Charged language
- “final chapter”
- For example
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“The horror project, which has buy-in from the Romero estate” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Filming on Twilight of the Dead has wrapped.
- Kate Beckinsale and Betty Gabriel star.
- Romero developed a treatment before his death in 2017.
- The Paz Brothers directed and Greg Nicotero handled effects.
Where accounts differ
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Prospects of the film
- Left
- The A.V. Club calls it a likely 'no-win situation' that may be good or bad news depending on how fans feel about others continuing Romero's story.
- Centre
- Deadline presents it as the long-gestating final chapter with estate backing and possible further films.
George A. Romero person
Romero wrote a treatment and regarded the film as the conclusion of his saga, per Deadline.
“regarded Twilight Of The Dead as the conclusion to his epic saga” — Deadline
Kate Beckinsale person
Beckinsale stars; the coverage reports no statement from her.
“Underworld star Kate Beckinsale stars alongside genre regular Betty Gabriel” — Deadline
Left1 article
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Twilight Of The Dead, George Romero's posthumous Dead series conclusion, rises from grave
Critical Skeptical commentary on a posthumous sequel by lesser-known filmmakers.
Centre1 article
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Neutral Straight trade report of the wrap with credits and distribution details.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 2 Oct 10:49 First DeadlineN ‘Twilight Of The Dead’: Filming Wraps On “Final Chapter” Of George A. Romero’s Zombie Saga, Kate Beckinsale & Betty Gabriel Star
- 2 Oct 23:36 +12h 46m The A.V. ClubLC Twilight Of The Dead, George Romero's posthumous Dead series conclusion, rises from grave
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.