Dawn of the Dead was a key inspiration for new horror show Generation Z, despite it not containing any zombies
Exclusive: Director Ben Wheatley says ๊that although Generation Z is inspired by Dawn of the Dead, there are actually no zombies to be seen

British filmmaker Ben Wheatley’s new post-apocalyptic se🌱eming series follows a gang of flesh-eating elders who pray on the young, but despite being influenced by iconic zombie movies, the filmmaker says there are actually no zombies in the show at all.
"It’s got the DNA of classic zombie stuff like Dawn of the Dead, but it’s also got the DNA of disaster movies of the 70s," Wheatley tells 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Total Film in our final issue out on Thursday, October 10, which features 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Gladiator 2 on the cover. But Wheatley, best known for helming psychological horror Kill List, is quick to 🅷point out that there aren’t actual zombies to be found in the show. "No one’s dead," he adds, "So it’s more like Romero’s The Crazi𒅌es."
Starring Downton Abbey’s Sue Johnston, 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Doctor Who season 14’s Anita Dobson, and 澳洲幸运5开奖号码历史查询:Slow Horses' Chris Reilly, Generation Z begins with the accidental release of a mysterious virus - one that just so happens to turn the elderly population of the fictional town of Dambury violent with a hunger for flesh. We have an exclusive look at Gཧeneration Z below which shows stars Lewis Gribben and Jay Lycurgo lying on the ground, presumably after running from the series' craze♍d elders.
But as Wheatley points out, the teenager-eating baby boomers are very much alive, aꦺnd the gory dark comedy is more like The Crazies. The 1973 movie follows a virus outbreak that causes death and permanent insanity in those infected, sending them into a zombie-like state whilst still breathing. That all seems a bit too close to home considering our world has just come out of a serious pandemic of its own.
However, the funny part is that Wheatley says he began work on the show in 2019 before COVID-19 had even entered the public consciousness. "What was weird about it is the script predicted a lot of the COVID stuff," Wheatley explains. But the creator feels that this only adds to the show’s appeal and relevance. "Before it had been predictive science-fiction, but now it’s something that everyone has experienced," says the director. W💝ell, we sure are glad our pandemic didn't turn out exactly like Wheatley’s prediction.
Generation Z is released on Channel 4 this October. And you can rඣead more about it and a whole lot else besides in the final issue of Total Film when it hits shelves and digital newsstands on Thursday, October 10.
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I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering TV and film for SFX and Total Film online. I have a Bachelors Degree in Media Production and Journalism and a Masters in Fashion Journalism from UA⛎L. In the past I have written for local UK and US newspaper outlets such as the Portland Tribune and York Mix and worked in communications, before focusing on film and entertainment writing. I am a HUGE horror fan and in 2022 I created my very own single issue feminist horror magazine.