The Marvel Zombies series surprised fans with its limited four-episode run, and many fans wondered why the creators didn’t extend the story. Bryan Andrews, co-creator of the series, recently revealed behind-the-scenes reasons that shaped the show’s structure. From production challenges to creative decisions, every choice played a role in crafting this unique and compact MCU story.
Marvel Zombies Limited Run Due to Logistics
According to Andrews, the decision to produce only four episodes came down to time and money. He said,
“It’s ‘Hey, this is all you got’… We were creating a thing and didn’t know what the limit was going to be.”
This practical approach allowed the creators to focus on quality over quantity, ensuring each episode remained tightly packed with action, suspense, and character development. Despite the shorter format, fans still receive a full Marvel Zombies experience, with every moment carefully crafted.
From Movie to Four Chapters
Interestingly, the creators initially planned Marvel Zombies as a 2–2.5 hour feature film. Andrews explained,
“We were going to make it a movie and have it released. It should be an epic, it’s gonna be two, two and a half hours long.”
However, contractual restrictions involving Spider-Man forced a change in plans. Andrews stated,
“There were contractual issues because of Spider-Man in it. So, there were Sony rules that come into play. We were like, ‘Oh s–t, that’s a thing? Oh no, okay, I guess we can’t do that.’”
As a result, the story was reworked into four episodes, described by Andrews as “four chapters in a book.” This adaptation preserved the narrative’s energy while fitting within production constraints. Andrews added,
“It would have been awesome if we had more time to make each installment a little bit longer, just so we could milk those quiet moments.”
Creative Adjustments and Character Choices
The series’ original concept leaned toward a medieval fantasy setting, but the team scaled it back to keep characters recognizable. Andrews explained that these creative adjustments were necessary to balance familiarity with innovation. Even with the shortened format, each episode is densely packed with story and action, keeping viewers engaged from start to finish. Key moments, such as character interactions and shocking zombie encounters, were carefully highlighted to maximize impact. There is still a wealth of untold stories in the Marvel Zombies universe. Andrews hinted at future installments, saying,
“So much material” remains untold and revealed, “Brad [Winderbaum] and I already know how the next one would start already.”
This statement excites fans and hints that Marvel Zombies could expand further, exploring darker alternate timelines while maintaining ties to the MCU.
While Marvel Zombies only spans four episodes, the series delivers a tight, thrilling narrative thanks to thoughtful adaptation, creative problem-solving, and careful pacing. Bryan Andrews’ insights highlight how logistical and contractual challenges shaped the series while leaving fans hopeful for future stories in this dark corner of the MCU.
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