Disney+ is unveiling a bold, blood-drenched take on the MCU with Marvel Zombies, its first TV-MA animated series. A four-episode arc arrives on September 24, expanding a concept that began as an episode of What If? Season 1 and reimagined the Marvel Universe as a zombie-infested nightmare.
The series brings back a host of familiar Marvel faces in a new, horror-tinged world. The voice cast features Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, David Harbour, Tessa Thompson, Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Hailee Steinfeld, Wyatt Russell, Randall Park, Iman Vellani and Dominique Thorne.
Plot context and origins
– In What If? Episode 5, titled What If… Zombies?, the Avengers and much of the world are infected by a zombie virus Janet van Dyne brings back from the Quantum Realm. Early victims include Hank Pym, then Hope van Dyne (the Wasp) and Scott Lang (Ant-Man). Other Avengers—Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Wong, Hawkeye, Falcon and Wanda Maximoff—also become brain-eating zombies.
– The human survivors include Wasp, Spider-Man, the Winter Soldier, Hulk, Sharon Carter, Okoye and Ant-Man’s head in a jar, who must fight to stay alive as the zombie threat looms. The ending hints at a Wanda zombie with magic powers and a near-complete Infinity Gauntlet for a zombie Thanos.
Creative team and production
– Marvel Zombies is created by Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells. Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Bryan Andrews and Zeb Wells, with producers Danielle Costa and Carrie Wassenaar.
Release details and context
– The four-episode series launches on Disney+ on September 24, continuing Marvel’s foray into darker, more mature animated storytelling. The project connects back to the Marvel Zombies comic concept created by Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman in 2005, now adapted for an animated TV format.
What to expect and why it matters
– This series marks Marvel’s first foray into a TV-MA animated format, signaling a willingness to experiment with horror-adjacent storytelling within the MCU. Fans can anticipate high-stakes action, familiar characters in a grim new setting, and potential crossovers that push the boundaries of animated superhero storytelling.
Summary for readers
– Marvel Zombies brings a darker, zombie-infused chapter to the Marvel universe, with a star-studded cast and a story that traces its roots to a What If? episode and Kirkman’s Marvel Zombies comic concept. With a four-episode run and a release on September 24, it promises a fresh, mature take on beloved heroes and a pulse-pounding look at what happens when the undead come for the MCU.
Additional notes
– The trailer position suggests a tone that blends superhero spectacle with horror elements, likely appealing to viewers who want more intense, cinematic animation. It also underscores Marvel’s willingness to diversify its animation catalog and explore darker storytelling within the broader MCU universe.