Marvel Zombies is one of the more unique projects to come from Marvel Studios. It takes some of the most popular characters introduced post-Endgame, and throws them into a post apocalyptic world that seems impossible for even superheroes to survive in. It’s a horrifyingly fun mix of story and characters that feels like the creators had the time of their lives playing in this sandbox.
In advance of the series release, I spoke with Brad Winderbaum, Marvel Studios Head of Streaming, TV & Animation and Executive Producer, and Bryan Andrews, writer, director and Executive Producer. Both Winderbaum and Andrews had worked on the previous Marvel animated series, What If…?, which is where the zombies were first introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Winderbaum shared that when the concept of this series was first being discussed, an epic film format was considered. However, certain rights deals with some of the characters required them to rethink the story into a 30-minute, episodic series.
“When Bryan and I were first talking about this, about spinning it out into its own story, we were thinking about it like a big, epic film. Like a quest, fantasy epic, that would take place over multiple chapters. And there are certain rights issues with the characters that forced us to think about it in half-hour episodic blocks, which I think actually helped the story-telling,” Winderbaum said. “Because we got to look at it like chapters. And I think it enhances this idea that’s like a big part of zombie movies and also fantasy, epic quest movies where disparate characters have to band together and find themselves to survive and adventure together.”
When asked which characters specifically impacted the story in that way, Winderbaum all but confirmed that it was Spider-Man, whose rights are owned by Sony Pictures.
“We get to play in a bigger sandbox on the half-hour animated side, especially when it comes to some of the Sony deals,” Winderbaum clarified.
For me, it was a special treat to see not only Shang-Chi again, but also Katy, Death Dealer and even Jimmy Woo. As I told Winderbaum and Andrews, I’ve never seen so many Asian heroes together!
Andrews shares my affection for the Shang-Chi characters, and jumped at the chance to use them here.
“We love Shang-Chi, the character but also the movie. I feel the same thing the audience feels, everyone’s like, ‘When the heck are we going to see Shang-Chi again?’ Which is why we put him in season 3 of What If…? and he was going to go into this. Again, the classics, bringing in Jimmy Woo, they’re all in San Francisco. It made perfect sense because the episode we had in What If…? we’re establishing that certain things got started in San Francisco. So made total sense that some of those characters would be right there and we were like, ‘Oooh we get to play with them!’”
Marvel Zombies is streaming on Disney+.
About Marvel Zombies:
After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world.
Featuring the voices of Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Tessa Thompson, Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Hailee Steinfeld, Wyatt Russell, Randall Park, Iman Vellani and Dominique Thorne, among others, “Marvel Zombies” is created by Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells. The series is executive produced by Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells, and is produced by Danielle Costa, Carrie Wassenaar.
Ron is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of POC Culture. He is a big believer in the power and impact of pop culture and the importance of representation in media.
