Are you able to think about ZOMBIES with out Zed and Addison? Neither can we—nevertheless it nearly occurred! Lengthy earlier than the hit Disney Channel franchise turned the musical powerhouse it’s right now, it was truly envisioned as a very completely different present with a complete new forged, together with Luke Benward and Maia Mitchell. Yep, for actual.
In case you missed it, the primary ZOMBIES film premiered in 2018, introducing followers to the city of Seabrook, the place people and zombies are attempting to peacefully coexist after a zombie apocalypse. The film follows cheerleader Addison (Meg Donnelly) and zombie soccer participant Zed (Milo Manheim) as they navigate college, prejudice, and a blossoming romance. Since then, the franchise has exploded into 4 movies, with ZOMBIES 4: Daybreak of the Vampires ushering in a brand new period of supernatural drama—and even teasing a fifth film on the finish!
However now, Luke is revealing that ZOMBIES was initially his present—effectively, kind of. In a July 2025 interview with Shine On Media, the Disney alum opened up in regards to the scrapped model of the mission that by no means made it to air.
“I truly haven’t seen the ZOMBIES franchise, what it’s now,” Luke admitted. “Primarily out of most likely being jaded and like, ‘Oh, I wished to try this!’ However I do know that Milo‘s an exceptional man. I’ve had the pleasure of assembly him a few instances, and have those who have labored with him in shut proximity. They are saying he’s phenomenal, so, very completely happy that he was the one to take the mantle of Zed.”
Luke went on to explain the unique mission, titled Zombies & Cheerleaders, as being very completely different from what followers know right now.
“Our model was undoubtedly, it was very bizarre? I don’t wish to say bizarre. It was undoubtedly completely different for Disney Channel,” he mentioned. “It was a musical nonetheless and it broke the fourth wall, which I consider they nonetheless do in ZOMBIES. But it surely was very whimsical, I’ll say. Todd Strauss-Schulson was the director of the pilot and he had simply got here off of [A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas], so he had a really completely different from the Disney Channel power, which was cool.”
Though the unique model by no means aired, Luke nonetheless has some love for it. “The pilot ended up popping out actually cool, you realize, as an inventive factor, however I see why Disney Channel was like, ‘Huh? What are we going to do with this now?’ Needed to type of rethink and rebrand it, and so I’m certain it really works loads higher now,” he concluded.
Love J-14? You’ll want to subscribe to our YouTube channel for enjoyable, unique movies along with your favourite stars.
