COMIC ‘ZOMBIE BROADWAY’ HEADING TO SCREEN

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It’s being described as Rocky Horror Picture Show meets Bullets Over Broadway.  The 2008 Virgin Comics graphic novel Zombie Broadway created by Eurythmics co-creator and record producer David Stewart, is being turned into a feature film.  The film will be a horror musical about a group of Broadway performers who battle the undead with show-tunes.

Among those heavy hitters being brought on board for this production is Jonas Akerlund, who will direct.  Grammy Award winning Akerlund has worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, U2, Madonna, Paul McCartney, Beyonce, and the list goes on.

Here’s Zombie Broadway’s complete synopsis:

With the un-dead causing mayhem and New York City in shambles, the President has his finger on the button — ready to nuke Manhattan Island. There remains only one hope, one way to avert another disaster and save the city — a good cheery new musical!

Unlike the zombie films of yore, ZOMBIE BROADWAY imagines zombies as not so different from regular folk; they eat candy and junk food and even enjoy a nice evening out at the theater. Somehow, Broadway show tunes sedate their violent ways. Could a Broadway show starring singing and dancing zombies be the key to saving the City?

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If you were around in the 80’s, or are just a fan of 80’s music, you probably know some of David Stewart’s mega-hits from the Eurythmics, like Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) and Here Comes the Rain Again.  And as Akerlund is best known for his music videos, it makes sense that he was brought on board, says Stewart:

My world revolves around music and film. I’ve always been obsessed with the idea of film married with a story and music. Jonas [Akerlund] has shot loads of music videos, but one of the first ones that caught my attention was ‘Smack My Bitch Up.’ I was not let down when I met him, not only with his wild imagination but his ability to execute his ideas under massive duress of time and budget. (Source: Deadline.com Sept. 25, 2014)

Stewart is not new to combining film, music and broadway.  He has written a stage adaptation of the movies Barbarella and Ghost and shared a Golden Globe with Mick Jagger for their song in the film Alfy.

Ahh. killing zombies with show-tunes.  The apocalypse is surely nye.