Zombies tackle new forces in Zombies 4: The Dawn of the Vampires
The Zombies franchise is a powerful force in youthful entertainment, consistently achieving impressive results among children and families. As one of the most popular Disney Channel Original Movie series on Disney+, the first three films have garnered nearly a quarter billion streaming hours. In this latest installment, titled “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires”, Zed and Addison embark on a new adventure when their summer road trip takes an unexpected turn, leading them into a rivalry between Daywalkers and Vampires. As tensions rise, Zed and Addison find themselves becoming camp counselors for these opposing supernatural factions. Meanwhile, Eliza and Willa must work to convince their sworn enemies, Nova and Victor, to mend their fractured domains before a greater evil threatens them all. The brand's growth and the cast's unique bond with their fans were the topics of discussion when the cast recently sat down with the Tribune.
Chandler Kinney portrays Willa Lykensen, the leader of the Werewolf Pack. The dynamic actress shared insights on how her character consistently paves the way by demonstrating compassion and fairness in her leadership.
When they encounter the Daywalkers and Vampires, Willa recognizes parallels between their struggles and the challenges she and her friends faced in the previous films.
"We now meet these two brand-new monster factions, the Daywalkers and the Vampires. They are at odds with each other. And, you know, I think it's a situation that feels familiar to the OG crew. We've witnessed discord and the effort to learn how to embrace individualism while joining together to be stronger. What I appreciate about this film is that, thematically, it continues to explore many of the lessons we've encountered and evolved through previous films. You truly see our OG crew apply what they've learned in action, stepping into roles as camp counselors and mentors to guide the younger generation toward eventually uniting to combat a challenge that I cannot disclose due to spoilers. Ultimately, I believe it is essential to set aside differences and collaborate for greater strength,” she states.
While Kinney plays a werewolf, she is able to infuse elements of her identity into the role, enhancing visibility.
"That representation is so important to me because, growing up, I wanted to see someone who looked like me in spaces that often lacked such representation. I felt a deep connection to those characters, and now I want to be that person for someone else—a young kid or girl—who is looking to see her curls on screen, her skin tone glistening in the light, feeling beautiful and powerful while also embracing her femininity." Kinney explains.
Freya Sky portrays Nova Bright, a Day Walker, while Malachi Barton plays Victor, a Vampire, in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. Although they are adversaries, the two characters share a mutual affection for one another.
The actors shared their experiences of joining the franchise and recording the catchy songs. They also discussed the challenges their characters face: remaining loyal to their crew while wanting to be together.
"Clearly, they've spent their entire lives learning to dislike each other. That’s the theme of this franchise: the two different sides coming together. Both of our characters, in my opinion, have a strong desire to expand their knowledge and explore the world beyond their preconceived notions. Barton elaborates on their dilemma, stating, "I believe that they help each other."
Sky’s Character Nova has the opportunity to sing a beautiful song in the film, which includes an exciting dramatic moment. The actress discussed her experience recording and performing the song.
“I mean, it was crazy. I remember hearing all the songs for the first time, especially my own, and thinking, "I'm going to sing in this one." I got into the booth and had a lot of fun. I feel that it was the perfect time for Nova, because the conflict was reaching its peak."
Milo Manheim’s Zed and Meg Donnelly’s Addison are the original power couple in the Zombies franchise. The actors shared their thoughts on assisting the newer cast in learning how to integrate into their roles.
"I think working on Zombies 4 was very meta because we were figuring out how to best help the new cast by supporting them, giving them advice, and witnessing them go through the same experiences we had," Donnelly reflected, sharing "that this experience was quite sentimental."
Manheim echoed his co-star’s sentiments by saying this: “I believe the difference between where I was when I started and where I was at the end was due to my mental state. I mean, on Zombies, just meeting the dancers was like, Oh my god, like some of them were ten years older than us, and we felt so small there. Getting to Zombies 4 and seeing that all of the dancers were younger than us this time was such a strange moment for me where I was like, “Okay, we are the older ones here,” you know, and that kind of stoked the fire for me to want to lead by example.”
It’s this type of camaraderie that makes the Zombie films so much fun and has garnered a strong fan base. Fans can catch the latest installment, “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires,” on Disney Channel on July 10th and catch it the following day on Disney+.