Marvel’s captivating animated anthology series, What If…?, which explores alternate timelines, struck a chord with fans, particularly with its ‘What If… Zombies?!’ episode. This fan-favorite installment imagined a terrifying turn of events from Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018), plunging Earth’s heroes (and even Happy!) into a zombie apocalypse. It was a thrilling blend of gruesome action, emotional moments, and unexpected humor, leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
Now, the story continues with the Marvel Zombies mini-series, promising an even deeper dive into the epic struggle between zombified superheroes and the last remaining survivors. This new chapter unfolds primarily through the perspective of Kamala Khan, also known as Ms. Marvel (voiced by Iman Vellani), whom creators Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells liken to a ‘Frodo’ figure for her unexpected journey.
“When we mapped out the timeline for this new adventure and considered our existing characters, Kamala emerged as the ideal choice,” Bryan Andrews explained during a recent video interview from Studio City, California.
A striking still from ‘Marvel Zombies’ shows Peter Parker/Spider-Man (voiced by Hudson Thames) caught in the chaos of the zombie outbreak.
Andrews, who previously directed the original ‘What If… Zombies?!’ episode, elaborated on this choice: “Kamala was still early in her heroic journey. She’s fresh, she’s new, and that made her the perfect protagonist for this adventure, much like Frodo’s unexpected role in The Lord of the Rings. While she possesses her powerful bangle, she’s still grappling with her evolving abilities, making her vulnerability compelling.”
He noted that pitting Kamala’s inherent hope and youthful perspective against the gruesome zombie apocalypse raises a fundamental question for viewers. “It’s that classic query often posed in zombie narratives: can your core identity endure the horrors you’re forced to confront?” Andrews remarked.
Marvel Zombies boasts an impressive voice cast, including Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda, Paul Rudd as Scott Lang, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Alexei Shostakov, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Awkwafina as Katy, and Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, among many other familiar voices. Notably, this series marks Marvel Studios’ inaugural animated venture to receive a TV-MA rating.
A dramatic still showcases the assembled survivors: Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian (David Harbour), Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani), and Blade Knight (Todd Williams), ready to face the undead threat.
Executive producer Brad Winderbaum, also speaking from Burbank, California, shared their creative philosophy: “Bryan and I are truly passionate about the zombie genre. We were eager to craft a series that honored its conventions, ensuring Marvel Zombies delivered the high stakes and raw, graphic violence characteristic of zombie films. This was crucial to convey the grim and perilous nature of this alternate universe, which ultimately led to its TV-MA designation.”
The show features terrifying zombie iterations of iconic heroes. “We’d brief our visual development team, simply saying, ‘Okay, this character is a zombie now’,” Bryan recalled. “They would then present us with numerous design options. Our feedback often ranged from, ‘That’s not quite gruesome enough’ to ‘Let’s tone that one down a bit.’ It felt like a creative playground, bringing these concepts to life. It was immensely enjoyable and creatively bountiful.”
Andrews noted that the original What If… Zombies?! episode offered a wealth of creative possibilities, and the biggest hurdle was condensing it into just four half-hour episodes. “To some extent, we fell short of that challenge because there was so much more story we couldn’t fit into the initial run,” he admitted. “Many other compelling storylines and characters are just waiting in the wings. So, with enough enthusiastic viewership and vocal support, we hope to explore those narratives in a potential second season.”
Fans can catch Marvel Zombies streaming exclusively from September 24. A trailer for the series is also available, offering a glimpse into the thrilling undead action.