It looks like a fresh wave of undead terror is on its way with Spawn of the Living Dead, a new horror project from Night of the Living Dead co-creator John A. Russo.
Packed with horror icons and backed by a passionate indie team, the film is shaping up to be a creepy throwback with some modern genre energy. On top of that, the same creative team is also diving into another monster flick, Organism 46-B The Unseen.
The lineup for the Spawn of the Living Dead carnage includes Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes), Kane Hodder (Friday the 13th franchise), and 70s Bond girl Trina Parks (Diamonds Are Forever).
The film kicks off right where the zombie genre began. “The 1968 zombie plague is ending. The living dead, eaters of human flesh who are lurking in the Evans City Cemetery, are being gunned down and burned by an armed posse led by Sheriff Ken Johnson and Deputy Jeff Sanders.
“Dr. Harold Ormsby is also on the scene with a team of white-coated laboratory assistants, collecting zombie specimens by shooting them with immobilizing darts, the same way wild animals are captured for zoos. Their mission is to carry out experiments on the undead in hopes of finding out what caused the plague and how it can be cured.”
Backing the project is producer Nuala Quinn-Barton, alongside Mania Entertainment and The Film Co-Operative. She’s bringing in musician, actor, and director Ani Kyd Wolf to direct not only Spawn of the Living Dead, but also the icy creature feature Organism 46-B The Unseen, based on a story by Ted Lazaris.
The synopsis for Organism 46-B The Unseen is pure paranoia horror: “Trapped beneath four kilometers of Antarctic ice, scientists awaken an ancient predator, a shape-shifting horror who mimics its prey and controls the mind. Paranoia sets in, survival is now not just about escape…but knowing who to trust.”
Both low-budget films are slated to shoot in early 2026 at Lumostage Studios in Vancouver. The same cast is expected to appear in both projects, and veteran FX wizard Todd Masters (True Blood) will be handling the makeup and creature design, zombies for Spawn and a shape-shifting Antarctic beast for Organism 46-B.
Ani Kyd Wolf shared her excitement about tackling two very different horrors in one go, saying:
“With the landscape of uncertainty in the film world, I feel that the future is made for indie filmmakers. We are working with brilliant horror legends in two different styled films, shooting them back-to-back. I am excited for this challenge.”
Nuala Quinn-Barton added:
“I am delighted to be a part of bringing these films to life alongside director Ani Kyd Wolf and some of the most wonderful creatives in the horror genre. It is especially exciting to be able to shoot in Canada, with their attractive tax incentives, and utilize the state-of-the-art facilities at the celebrated Lumostage Studios in Vancouver.”
With Spawn of the Living Dead and Organism 46-B The Unseen both moving forward, genre fans have some truly exciting new nightmares to look forward to.
Source: Deadline