Well this came right from the Horse's mouth, and he wanted it known without the veil of secrecy. Looks like another chapter in the Zombie-fest world is en route. Apparently it's a 'balls-to-the-wall Zombie fest'.. Cooooooooooooooooooooooool!!! I don't know about you, but I'm a huge Zombie movie fan, whether its with Madge Bellamy or directed by Lucio Fulci, whether it's straight or comedic, I'm a zombie fan. One of my early tortures for my sister was to turn into Zombie Harry (he's the personality usually writing the page) and slowly 'coming to get her' because 'I could smell her braaaaiiiiinnnnnsssss' Ahhhh, that's why she's so perfectly normal. Anyway here's the scoop from Evil Ernie fella....
To: Harry Knowles, Esq
From: Philip Nutman, writer of "Children of the Dead"
Dear Harry:
A friend just emailed me your latest gabfest on CoD and no rumors, here's the straight scoop:
Yes, there's going to be a forth "Dead" movie with or without George Romero (who hasn't signed on as yet) from an original screenplay by original "Night" writer John Russo.
Yes, it's entitled "Children of the Dead".
Yes, some of what your correspondent reported re: the plot is correct, but is just the background to the story and maybe constitutes 5% of the screenplay.
The film is scheduled to shoot next year.
I report this from an authorative, informed position as I am currently writing the three-issue comic book inspired by John's old screenplay and am involved, albeit indirectly at this point, in the production process. The screenplay is sitting beside me as I type (don't ask -- no you can't have a copy).
As to Romero's involvement, from what I understand, that's up to George. Maybe. Maybe not. I really don't know. But considering the fact he's a/ signed on to write and direct Resident Evil; b/in negotiations to write/direct Resident Evil; or c/ "having discussions about Resident Evil" -- well, no one, including George, seems to know what George is doing right now. All I can confirm is he and Russo have had discussions and had a meeting a couple of weeks ago with interested financial parties at the show in Las Vegas, and John Russo is producing the project. However, since Romero has also announced he's developing a TV show based on "Day of the Dead" with Britain's Granada TV it appears his plate is more than full. We'll just have to see.
Now before anyone starts crying into their milk at the thought of a living dead movie without George, let me put everyone's minds at rest. This is a direct sequel to the original "Night" (but allow for a more contemporaneous jump of a few years from 1968) and is not a black comedy a la "Return of the Living Dead" or cheap knock-off remake like the Savini-directed 1990 version. This is balls-to-the-wall zombie horror of the first order (the script made me grind my teeth in places).
The comic book version (which, like I said, is not a direct adaptation) is the appetizer for the movie. The first issue will be out in November. I'm writing and artist Matt Roach (who's done work for White Wolf -- Kindred of the East, etc) is pencilling and inking. Ken Wolak (The Tenth, Evilman) is coloring. The first cover is by Lady Death artist/co-creator Steven Hughes. Roach's work is stunning and can best be described as Bernie Wrightson for the end of the millennium. Midnight Comics (an imprint of Russo's Market Square Productions) is the publisher, with many other movie related projects in the pipeline.
That's it. No rumors. No pseudonyms. Just the facts, m'am.
Author of WET WORK, writer of Chaos! Comics' EVIL ERNIE, CHASTITY, THE OMEN, etc.
