Zombies 2

Last updated

Zombies 2
Zombies 2.jpg
Based onCharacters created
by David Light & Joseph Raso
Written byDavid Light & Joseph Raso
Directed by Paul Hoen
Starring
Composer George S. Clinton & Amit May Cohen
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
  • David Light & Joseph Raso
  • Paul Hoen
  • Anna Gerb
ProducerMary Pantelidis
Production location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
CinematographyRudolf Blahacek
EditorLisa Binkley
Running time84 minutes
Production companiesBloor Street Productions, Inc.
Original release
Network Disney Channel
ReleaseFebruary 14, 2020 (2020-02-14)

Zombies 2 [lower-alpha 1] is a 2020 American musical and dance Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered on Disney Channel on February 14, 2020. A sequel to the 2018 Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies , the film stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, and features Trevor Tordjman, Kylee Russell, and Carla Jeffery reprising their roles from the first movie, with Chandler Kinney, Pearce Joza, and Baby Ariel joining the cast. The film shows the zombies and cheerleaders, who have mostly since reconciled from the events of the first film, attempting to coexist and assimilate werewolves into the town of Seabrook.

Contents

A sequel, Zombies 3 , was released in July 2022.

Plot

Prior to the founding of Seabrook, settlers fought off a group of werewolves for control over an energy artifact, later known as the moonstone.

At the opening of the film, the zombies have reunited with and assimilated into the rest of Seabrook. Zed plans to ask Addison to Prawn, the Seabrook equivalent of Prom, while Addison captains a group of new recruits to compete against veteran cheerleaders coached by Bucky. Soon after, though, Bucky announces his candidacy for class president which means that the cheer captaincy will go to someone else; Addison hopes to succeed Bucky.

The movie then fast-forwards to a bus carrying the cheerleaders enters the nearby forbidden forest, Addison and the cheerleaders spot werewolves, which upon report to the local government, causes the mayor to reinstate anti-monster laws. Zombies are banned from Prawn, so to combat the new laws, Zed decides to run for class president to go to Prawn with Addison.

Meanwhile, the local werewolves' power-granting moonstone necklaces are losing their power. Werewolf prophecy states that a girl with white hair known as the Great Alpha will lead them to this moonstone, so the werewolves enroll at Seabrook to contact Addison. Zed attempts to gain their vote for him by offering them advice on how to assimilate into Seabrook, which the werewolves ignore in favor of embracing their werewolf traits.

Noticing Addison's white hair, Wyatt, a high-ranking werewolf, invites her to their den, where they tell her the prophecy and give her a fully charged moonstone necklace, which they have saved for the Great Alpha. If she is truly a werewolf, wearing it will cause her to transform. The werewolves give her one day to decide, and reveal that the destruction of the power plant will cause the destruction of the moonstone buried underneath it. The next day, Addison shows Zed the necklace, but feeling jealous, Zed secretly takes it. Zed wins his presidential debate against Bucky, but when the Z-band shorts out due to the moonstone, Zed becomes a full zombie, losing the election.

The werewolves head to Seabrook Power and face off against the demolition crew. The werewolves are arrested at the demolition site, but Addison, alerted by a siren at school, arrives with the cheerleaders and zombies, who get the adults to stop the demolition. After the demolition is postponed, Zed reveals to Addison that he took the necklace from her. Angry, she puts on the necklace, but finds out that she's not a werewolf. The device controlling the demolition shorts out, and Seabrook Power is unwillingly demolished.

Prawn night arrives and Zed, as well as the rest of the non-humans, show up to crash Prawn. Zed and Addison make up, however, the ground starts shaking and splits open with a blue glow from the hole. The werewolves realize that the moonstone is not destroyed and enter the hole to find it. The humans and zombies follow to help. They find the moonstone, but a huge boulder blocks the way. Zed removes his Z-band and uses his zombie strength to lift the boulder and allow the others to bring the moonstone out safely. They return to Prawn; Zed and Addison subsequently share their first kiss.

In the final scene, a glowing blue meteor falls from the Moon, waking Addison and making her hair glow, though she doesn't notice it.

Cast

Production

In early 2019, a sequel to Zombies was in production, with returning stars, directors, and writers. [1] Pearce Joza, Chandler Kinney, and Ariel Martin joined the cast with Kylee Russell, Trevor Tordjman, Carla Jeffery, James Godfrey, and Kingston Foster reprising their roles from the first film. [2] The film is written by David Light and Joseph Raso, directed by Paul Hoen, and executive produced by Anna Gerb, Paul Hoen, and Joseph Raso. Production on the film began on May 27, 2019, [3] and wrapped in Toronto on July 15, 2019. Scenes were also shot at Rockwood Conservation Area. [4] Mary Pantelidis served as producer. [5]

Soundtrack

Release

Zombies 2 was released on DVD format on May 19, 2020; the DVD release also featured the music video of "The New Kid In Town" performed by Baby Ariel. [6]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.50/10. [7]

Emily Ashby of Common Sense Media rated the movie four out of five stars, praised the film for the depiction of tolerance and understanding as positive messages, found the characters portrayed by Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly to be positive role model, and complimented the educational value for the film's approach on social-emotional themes such as body positivity. [8] Rachel Wagner of Rotoscopers gave the film a 3 out of 5 stars rating, praised the performances of the cast and the chemistry between Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, while complimenting the musical performances. [9]

Ratings

During its premiere on February 14, 2020, in the 8:00 PM time slot, Zombies 2 attracted a total of 2.46 million viewers, with a 0.52 rating for people aged 18–49. [10] The sequel performed better than the original among young adults between 18 and 49 years old. [11]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2021 Canadian Cinema Editors Awards Best Editing in Television Movie or Mini-SeriesLisa BinkleyNominated [12]
Leo Awards Best Picture Editing in a Television MovieLisa BinkleyNominated [13]
Canadian Alliance for Film and Television Costume Arts and Design Awards Best Costume Design in Film Sci-Fi/FantasyZombies 2Won [14]

Sequel

A third film, Zombies 3 , was announced on March 22, 2021. Filming took place in Toronto, beginning on May 31, 2021. [15] [16] The film premiered on Disney+ on July 15, 2022, and was followed by an extended version premiering on Disney Channel on August 12, 2022. [17] The third film involves an alien invasion. On May 20, 2022, RuPaul was announced to have joined the cast as the voice of "The Mothership", described in the official synopsis as "a comedically passive-aggressive UFO". [18]

Notes

  1. ↑ The movie is stylized with hyphens as Z-O-M-B-I-E-S 2 on most Disney websites

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Werewolf fiction</span> Fantasy genre

Werewolf fiction denotes the portrayal of werewolves and other shapeshifting therianthropes, in the media of literature, drama, film, games and music. Werewolf literature includes folklore, legend, saga, fairy tales, Gothic and horror fiction, fantasy fiction and poetry. Such stories may be supernatural, symbolic or allegorical. A classic cinematic example of the theme is The Wolf Man (1941) which in later films joins with the Frankenstein Monster and Count Dracula as one of the three famous icons of modern day horror. However, werewolf fiction is an exceptionally diverse genre, with ancient folkloric roots and manifold modern re-interpretations.

<i>Dog Soldiers</i> (film) 2002 film directed by Neil Marshall

Dog Soldiers is a 2002 British action horror film written, directed and edited by Neil Marshall in his feature directorial debut. Starring Sean Pertwee, Kevin McKidd, Emma Cleasby and Liam Cunningham, the film follows a squad of soldiers fighting to survive an attack by a pack of werewolves during a military training exercise in the Scottish Highlands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Werewolf by Night</span> Comics character

The Werewolf by Night is the name of two werewolves appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first incarnation of Werewolf by Night, Jack Russell, first appeared in Marvel Spotlight #2. The second incarnation, Jake Gomez, first appeared in Werewolf by Night #1.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Grevioux</span> American screenwriter (born 1962)

Kevin Grevioux is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and comic book writer. He is best known for his role as Raze in the Underworld film series, which he co-created, as well as his voicework in the cartoon Young Justice as the villain Black Beetle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Higgins</span>

Pat Higgins is a film director, writer, producer and owner of independent production company Jinx Media Ltd.

John DeLuca is an American actor and singer who is known for his role as Butchy in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Teen Beach Movie, as well as its sequel Teen Beach 2, and as Anthony in coming-of-age comedy Staten Island Summer. He also guest starred with Maia Mitchell on an episode of Disney Channel's show, Jessie, along with a guest appearance on Wizards of Waverly Place.

<i>Bunkd</i> American television series

Bunk'd is an American comedy television series created by Pamela Eells O'Connell that premiered on Disney Channel on July 31, 2015. The series is a spinoff of Jessie and for the first three seasons includes returning stars Peyton List, Karan Brar, and Skai Jackson, as well as Miranda May who has starred over the series' entire run. In October 2022, the series was renewed for a seventh season, which premiered on July 23, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meg Donnelly</span> American actress (born 2000)

Meg Elizabeth Donnelly is an American actress. She played Taylor Otto in the ABC sitcom American Housewife (2016–2021), Addison in the Disney Channel film series Zombies (2018–present), and Mary Campbell in the CW television series The Winchesters (2022–2023).

<i>Zombies</i> (2018 film) American musical television film

Zombies is an American musical and zombie Disney Channel Original Movie that premiered on Disney Channel on February 16, 2018. The film is based on the unaired pilot Zombies & Cheerleaders by David Light and Joseph Raso, and stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, playing zombie football player Zed and human cheerleader Addison who meet and fall in love, and who must lead their respective groups to coexist with each other.

Milo Jacob Manheim is an American actor. He is best known for his starring role as Zed in the 2018 Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies, and its sequels Zombies 2 (2020) and Zombies 3 (2022). In 2018, he finished in second place on season 27 of Dancing with the Stars.

<i>Zombies 3</i> 2022 musical television film

Zombies 3 is a 2022 American science fiction musical comedy-drama film that premiered on Disney+ on July 15, 2022, and Disney Channel on August 12, 2022. A sequel to the 2018 film Zombies and the 2020 film Zombies 2, it stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly reprising their lead roles as Zed and Addison, respectively. Much of the main supporting cast from the first two Zombies films also return. The film follows the town of Seabrook, which now hosts zombies, normal humans, and werewolves all coexisting in harmony, as they attempt to repel an alien invasion.

The Zombies franchise consists of three musical adventure-comedy films directed by Paul Hoen, two Disney Channel Original Movies and one film that premiered on Disney+ before airing on Disney Channel. Written by David Light and Joseph Raso, the series began with Zombies (2018) and has continued on, with the most recent movie being Zombies 3 (2022). The franchise stars Milo Manheim as Zed and Meg Donnelly as Addison. Zombies premiered on Disney Channel on February 16, 2018, Zombies 2 premiered on Disney Channel on February 14, 2020, and Zombies 3 premiered on Disney+ on July 15, 2022 before airing on Disney Channel on August 12, 2022. It was originally meant to be a television series titled Zombies and Cheerleaders, but it was never developed or have ever aired, and was instead remade as the film Zombies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lego Monster Fighters</span> Lego theme

Lego Monster Fighters was a Lego theme based on Universal Studios Monsters from the horror fiction genre. The Monster Fighters fight against the Lord Vampyre's monsters while collecting the moonstones. The story takes place in the Monster Realm and it's similar to The Monster Squad film. The theme was first introduced in May 2012. It was eventually discontinued by the end of December 2014. The theme also produced a range of associated media, including theme park attractions, several shorts, video game, app and publications.

Zombies: The Re-Animated Series is an animated musical television series based on the Disney franchise Zombies. It is a co-production between American studio Disney Television Animation and Canadian studio Atomic Cartoons, alongside vanity card Bloor Street Productions.

Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires is an upcoming American science fiction musical film. It is the fourth installment in the Zombies series, and is a sequel to the 2022 film, Zombies 3. The film is scheduled to be released on Disney+ in 2024 or between the beginning or summer of 2025. The film will follow Zed and Addison taking a break from Mountain College and going on holiday to Shadyside where Victor and Nova show up. This will be taking place in New Zealand.

Zombies (Original TV Movie Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies. Released in conjunction with the film's linear television premiere on February 16, 2018, the album featured original songs performed by the cast involving Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Kylee Russell and Trevor Tordjman as the featuring artists.

Zombies 2 (Original TV Movie Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the Disney Channel Original Movie Zombies 2, a sequel to Zombies (2018) and the second instalment in the eponymous musical franchise. Released in conjunction with the film's linear television premiere on February 14, 2020, the album featured original songs performed by the cast involving Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Kylee Russell, Trevor Tordjman, Carla Jeffery, Emilia McCarthy, Jasmine Renee Thomas, Noah Zulfikar, Baby Ariel and several others as the featuring artists.

References

  1. ↑ Bruce Haring (February 11, 2019). "Disney's Zombies 2 Sequel Heads into Production with Returning Stars, Director, Writers". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 11, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Zombies 2 Show Bios". Walt Disney Television Press. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  3. ↑ Denise Petski (May 21, 2019). "Zombies 2: Pearce Joza, Chandler Kinney & Ariel Martin Join Disney Channel Movie". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  4. ↑ Stacey Grant (July 15, 2019). "Everything We Know About Disney's Zombies 2". Seventeen . Retrieved August 22, 2019.
  5. ↑ "A New Pack of Werewolves Claw Its Way Into the Highly-Anticipated Zombies 2, Premiering Friday, Feb. 14" (Press release). Disney Channel. December 12, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2020– via The Futon Critic.
  6. ↑ "Disney's Zombies 2 DVD Review". FlickDirect. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Zombies 2 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  8. ↑ Ashby, Emily. "Zombies 2 Movie Review | Common Sense Media". Common Sense Media . Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  9. ↑ Wagner, Rachel (February 17, 2020). "[REVIEW] Werewolves Join the Dance Party in 'Zombies 2'". Rotoscopers. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ Mitch Metcalf (February 18, 2020). "Top 150 Friday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.14.2020". Showbuzz Daily . Archived from the original on February 18, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  11. ↑ "L+SD Ratings: "ZOMBIES 2" Outperforms Original Among Young Adults, Nearly Matches Viewership Total". Headline Planet. February 19, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ "2021 Leo Award Nominations » Canadian Cinema Editors / Les Monteurs et Monteuses de cinéma canadien". Canadian Cinema Editors / Les Monteurs et Monteuses de cinéma canadien. May 21, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ "2021 LEO AWARDS, Nominees by Program". www.leoawards.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Official Nominees & Winners 2021". CAFTCAD Awards. Retrieved May 12, 2022.
  15. ↑ Andy Swift (March 22, 2021). "Zombies 3: Disney Channel Confirms 'Final Installment' in Musical Trilogy". TVLine . Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  16. ↑ Petski, Denise (May 19, 2021). "'Zombies 3': Matt Cornett, Kyra Tantao, Terry Hu Join Disney Channel Movie". Deadline. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  17. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (May 20, 2022). "RuPaul joins Disney's Zombies 3 movie as the mother of all alien spaceships". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  18. ↑ Nolfi, Joey (May 20, 2022). "RuPaul joins Disney's Zombies 3 movie as the mother of all alien spaceships". EW. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.