Marvel Studios’ highly anticipated animated series Marvel Zombies is finally making its way to Disney+. However, fans may be surprised to learn that the Marvel Zombies Disney+ project was not always planned as a show. Instead, it was first envisioned as a full-length movie. In fact, according to showrunner Bryan Andrews, the undead adventure was originally conceived as a film. Ultimately, though, it was restructured into a four-part event series, ensuring the story could unfold with greater depth and suspense.
From Movie to Series
While speaking with Collider, Andrews explained the decision behind the change. Originally, the creative team envisioned Marvel Zombies as a movie. However, production challenges and scheduling led Marvel to rework it into a Disney+ mini-event.
“Originally, we were thinking it’d be a movie… but some things came up, certain issues that we just had to kind of, ‘Oh let’s break it. We’ll have to break it up into four episodes.’ So, basically, it’s like a four-episode mini-event, similar to a film broken up into four parts. It’s one story. It’s one throughline. A lot of insanity happens.”
Despite this shift, Andrews assured fans that the series maintains a cinematic quality. Instead of feeling like a typical episodic show, Marvel Zombies Disney+ will deliver a story that plays out more like a film divided into chapters.
Why the Change Benefits Fans
By splitting the story into four parts, Marvel ensures viewers can experience suspense, cliffhangers, and more detailed world-building. Consequently, this approach enables audiences to delve deeper into the zombie-infested MCU while still enjoying a cinematic presentation.
What’s Marvel Zombies Disney+ About?
The series is based on the popular What If…? episode that introduced a zombie apocalypse into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this alternate reality, a new lineup of heroes must survive the plague while facing terrifying battles. Moreover, Andrews teased that the zombie sequences are “pretty wild,” pushing the tone further than the original animated anthology.
Unlike other Marvel projects, Marvel Zombies Disney+ leans heavily into horror themes. It blends superhero action with survival stakes, making it one of the boldest MCU projects yet. Fans can therefore expect gruesome visuals, emotional stakes, and shocking twists as the story unfolds.
Confirmed Voice Cast
The show will feature several returning MCU stars reprising their roles, including:
- Awkwafina as Katey
- David Harbour as Red Guardian
- Simu Liu as Shang-Chi
- Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch
- Randall Park as Jimmy Woo
- Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova
- Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop
- Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams
- Iman Vellani as Kamala Khan
- Hudson Thames as Spider-Man
This impressive cast lineup not only strengthens the continuity with previous MCU stories but also ensures that fans will see beloved heroes in a new, darker light. As a result, the series feels both familiar and refreshingly different.
Marvel Zombies Disney+ Release Date
Written by Zeb Wells and directed by Bryan Andrews, Marvel Zombies officially premieres on Disney+ on September 24, 2025. With its unique format, stacked cast, and darker tone, this project promises to be a standout addition to Marvel’s growing slate of Disney+ series.
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