George A. Romero's Twilight of the Dead Eyes Final Financing Push, Says Greg Nicotero

George A. Romero may be gone, but his zombie saga still has one more shuffle in it. The final chapter, 'Twilight of the Dead,' exists, has a director, even some cast... it just has not rolled camera yet. Here is where things stand and why it is taking a minute.

How we got here

• 2017: Romero passes away, but leaves behind a treatment for what he considered the seventh and final entry in his Dead series (following 'Night of the Living Dead,' 'Dawn of the Dead,' 'Day of the Dead,' 'Land of the Dead,' 'Diary of the Dead,' and 'Survival of the Dead').
• 2021: That treatment is revealed. It uses the title a lot of fans figured he would use after 'Day': 'Twilight of the Dead.' Writers Joe Knetter, Robert Lucas, and Paolo Zelati, who had been working with Romero, start expanding it into a full screenplay.
• Two years ago: Roundtable Entertainment announces financing. Soon after, 'Session 9' director Brad Anderson signs on to helm it.
• Eleven months ago: Casting news hits — Milla Jovovich ('Resident Evil') and Betty Gabriel ('Get Out') join the project.
• Now: Despite that early funding news, the movie has not started filming and is still locking down the rest of its financing.

What the movie is

Story-wise, 'Twilight of the Dead' is set on a tropical island and looks at the end of the world from the perspective of the last surviving humans, who find themselves stuck between competing groups of the undead. In classic Dead fashion, it is being pitched as a genre piece with the social and political bite Romero was known for.

Who is making it

Brad Anderson is directing. Paolo Zelati is producing alongside John Baldecchi, Sarah Donnelly, Ardvella Entertainment's Stephanie Caleb, and Romero's widow Suzanne Romero. Executive producers include Dominic Ianno, Alex Dundas, Jason Resnick, Chris Roe, and Luis Riefkohl.

Nicotero is back in the Romero sandbox

FX veteran Greg Nicotero, who launched his effects career on Romero's 'Day of the Dead' and worked with him again on 'Land,' 'Diary,' and 'Survival,' is handling the practical gore here. He has called this gig a full-circle moment. Nicotero also offered the most concrete status update so far on Slasher Radio: production design work is underway, but money is the holdup.

"The interesting thing about George's universe is, the zombies evolve. ... This continues that intention, which I think is really interesting and unlike any other zombie stuff that's out there. It's very different. I've had a bunch of meetings with the director, we did some designs, and we're sort of waiting for them to secure the rest of their financing."

The inside-baseball part

Yes, there was a financing announcement two years ago. And yes, it is still chasing additional funds. Welcome to indie horror in 2025: money arrives in phases, and even legacy titles have to stitch together the last chunk before cameras roll. The good news is the creative pieces are in place — script, director, key cast, effects team — and they are already trading designs. The moment the remaining cash lands, this one should finally move.