“Night of the Living Dead” is one of the most influential films in history, full stop.
George Romero’s zombie film from 50 years ago not only was scary, introducing the definitive take on the living dead rising from their graves, but the film also showed the perfect marriage of horror and social commentary. This film was followed up by two other Romero classics (“Day of the Dead” is severely underrated) that created one of the best trilogies in horror history. However, according to a new report, “the original writers and producers” of “Night of the Living Dead” wrote an unproduced script for a true sequel to the film back in the ‘70s. And because we can’t let good things rest, the dead are coming back to life, yet again.
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According to Bloody Disgusting, who got the official word from Living Dead Media, “Night of the Living Dead II,” the first true sequel to the classic horror film is scheduled to come out sometime next year, like it or not. Living Dead Media said:
“That history and ‘Night of the Living Dead’s’ place on the Mt. Rushmore of horror films is known by most horror fans and people all over the world. But, unknown to most is that in the 1970’s, the original writers and producers of ‘Night of the Living Dead’ penned a sequel to their masterpiece. A sequel that inexplicably has gone unproduced for over forty years – until now. Living Dead Media has brushed away the dirt from this amazing follow up to a classic and brought together a great team to produce the new film.”
One can’t help but wonder who is a part of this “great team” that is going to make the first real sequel to the Romero classic. The wording of this announcement also concerns us, with Living Dead Media saying “the original writers and producers” penned the script for the film. The original writers of “Night of the Living Dead” are Romero and John Russo. However, earlier in the statement, the company says the film was “written by John A. Russo,” which leads us to believe that Romero didn’t actually have anything to do with this sequel. Plus, considering Living Dead Media is reticent to namedrop Romero at all in regards to this sequel, it leaves us a bit…concerned, to say the least. That being said, we’d be more than happy to hear that Romero was one of the writers involved in this sequel, so please, Living Dead Media, send a clarification.
Now, obviously, no matter what happens with “Night of the Living Dead II,” it can’t change the fact that Romero created a trilogy of films that is incredible and can’t be sullied by Romero-less sequels. But still, there’s something unnerving about a “Night of the Living Dead” film without Romero involved. Perhaps, it’s one instance where we should let the dead rest in peace and not touch what is perfect in the first place.
Living Dead Media plans on releasing “Night of the Living Dead II” in 2019. You’ve been warned.