Marvel Studios has finally released the first bloody trailer for Marvel Zombies, the new animated Disney+ series that plunges the Marvel Cinematic Universe into a gory, undead hell.
The series will officially hit Disney+ on September 24 and is Marvel’s first-ever TV-MA animated series, venturing the studio into darker, more graphic storylines.
The trailer verifies long-time fan hopes: the inevitable arrival of Blade in animation. But this isn’t the vampire slayer fans are familiar with – rather, the series brings a new iteration named Blade Knight, a mashup of Moon Knight and Blade. Voiced by Todd Williams, this iteration of the character deploys vicious sword fighting in the clip, slicing through zombiefied Avengers with ease, such as an undead Ghost from Thunderbolts.
This first is particularly notable in light of Blade’s complex history in the MCU. Announced back in 2019 as a live-action reboot featuring Mahershala Ali, the project has been delayed and is still in development. In the meantime, Wesley Snipes’ legendary take on Blade briefly returned in Deadpool & Wolverine to fill the gap between ages. Now, Marvel Zombies provides fans their first real glimpse of what the vampire hunter can do in this world – even if it’s with a gory animated lens.
From “What If?” to Full-Fledged Series
Marvel Zombies began life in Season 1 of What If?, Marvel’s animated anthology series. Episode 5, “What If… Zombies?”, rebooted Earth’s Mightiest Heroes as zombie corpses after a virus jumped from the Quantum Realm. There was left only a frightful cliffhanger: a zombie Thanos with an almost-complete Infinity Gauntlet.
That episode became a smash fan favorite, and Marvel has decided to spin off the concept as a solo show. The new four-episode series will further the zombie apocalypse setting, with heroes and villains returning both as survivors and as undead menaces. Characters that will be featured include Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, Jimmy Woo, Yelena Belova, Okoye, Namor, Abomination, Captain America, and Wanda Maximoff.
An All-Star Voice Cast
Marvel isn’t sparing any talent when it comes to Marvel Zombies. The acting roster for Marvel Zombies consists of returning MCU talent and newcomers taking over roles they’ve played before. Already confirmed in their roles are Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Tessa Thompson, Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Hailee Steinfeld, Wyatt Russell, Randall Park, Iman Vellani, and Dominique Thorne.
With this cast, audiences can look forward to a blend of heartfelt stakes and outrageous action as heroes attempt – and frequently fail – to stay alive against their zombie-like equivalents.
A Mature First for Marvel Animation
Aside from its characters and mythos, what’s significant with Marvel Zombies is that it has a TV-MA rating – Marvel’s first for an animated series. The trailer does not hold back on gore, with explicit dismemberment, gruesome combat, and tone much darker than Marvel is used to in animation. It marks a ballsy step for Disney+, indicating Marvel Studios’ willingness to push mature themes in animation much like it has done in live-action films like Deadpool & Wolverine.
Comic Book Origins
Marvel’s zombie heroes aren’t an original idea. Seven years ago, in 2005, The Walking Dead’s creator Robert Kirkman released the first Marvel Zombies comic book series, which depicted an alternate reality in which the world’s finest heroes were infected with a virus that made them flesh-eating beasts. That bleak alternate reality became a cult phenomenon among fans and set the stage for Marvel Studios to later adapt the concept onto film.
Creative Team and Producers
The animated show is developed by Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells, with Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige also serving as one of the executive producers. Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, and Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt are also executive producers along with Andrews and Wells. Danielle Costa and Carrie Wassenaar are the producers.
The Bottom Line
With its combination of star power, gory animation, and eagerly anticipated first appearance of Blade, Marvel Zombies is poised to be a landmark film for Marvel Studios. Not only does it take the well-received What If? episode and continue it, but it also pushes the MCU into a darker, horror-focused territory. Viewers hungry for something beyond Marvel’s typical superhero fare should circle September 24 on their calendar when the zombie apocalypse hits Disney+.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
