The first image fromQueens of the Deadhas been unveiled. The upcoming zombie comedy is the debut feature from Tina Romero, the daughter of legendary horror director George A. Romero, who shaped the modern zombie genre with movies such as 1968’sNight of the Living Deadand1978’sDawn of the Dead. Set during a zombie outbreak at a drag show in Brooklyn, the new movie - which Romero co-wrote with Erin Judge - features a robust ensemble cast that includes Riki Lindhome, Eve Lindley, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Dominique Jackson, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Cheyenne Jackson, and Margaret Cho.
Deadlinerecently sharedthe first image fromQueens of the Dead. It reveals quite a few members of the cast in costume, reacting with horror to something that they are looking at. The gathered crowd includes the characters played by Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding,The Mandalorian,Twisters), Jaquel Spivey (Mean Girls2024), Dominique Jackson (Pose), and Tomas Matos (Fire Island). See the full-size image below:
Additionally, they report thatCharades Films will be handling international sales forQueens of the Dead. Below, read quotes about the acquisition from Romero, Charades chairman Yohann Comte, and producers Natalie Metzger and Matthew Lee Miller:
What This Means For Queens Of The Dead
The Movie May Take After Its Precursors
So far, this image does not reveal much about the story or characters ofQueens of the Damned. However, it suggests that the movie will take after quite a few ofGeorge Romero’s zombie moviesbytaking place in a single location that is cut off from the rest of the world.Nighttook place in an isolated farmhouse,Dawnwas set in a barricaded mall, and their 1985 follow-upDay of the Deadhad its characters in an underground bunker, setting the stage for a club being the primary setting of the new movie.
Romero helmed six movies in his zombie franchise overall, including 2005’sLand of the Dead, 2007’sDiary of the Dead, and 2009’sSurvival of the Dead.
The fact that thezombie movieis gearing up for international sales alsolikely means that U.S. distribution is in the works as well. While no announcement has been made on that front, the gears are likely already turning. Should that be the case, it seems likely that the movie, which was shot in the summer of 2024, could be ready to premiere sometime in 2025, potentially lining it up perfectly for a Halloween season release.
It Takes The Zombie Genre In An Exciting Direction
One more thing that this image fromQueens of the Deadhighlights is the fact that it isexpanding the zombie genre in a major way by centering a cadre of LGBTQ+ performersand LGBTQ+ characters. By centering the community, it continues the legacy of the late George A. Romero in another way, as the iconic director made a point of introducing strong Black characters into his movies during a time when the horror genre typically centered on Caucasian leads, pushing the envelope of representation in a similar way.
Queens of the Dead
Cast
Queens Of The Dead is a horror film that explores a post-apocalyptic world ruled by an undead matriarchy. A small group of survivors must navigate this treacherous landscape, facing a society led by powerful zombie queens intent on expanding their dominion over the remnants of humanity.
