Night of the Living Dead: Origins to Screw George Romero All Over Again

Poor George Romero. He made what is probably the seminal horror/zombie movie, and he doesn’t even own it. In fact, no one owns it. “Night of the Living Dead” is in the public domain, thanks to a screw-up by the film’s original distributor (and lack of attention from George) back in the ye old days of the ’60s when the film was originally released. As a result, basically no one actually “owns” the film, and anyone can do whatever they wish with it, such as continuing to release it on DVD or, in this case, usurp the title and “remake” it in 3D.

That’s the idea behind Zebediah de Soto and Simon West’s upcoming “Night of the Living Dead: Origins”. According to de Soto, who wrote the script with David R. Schwartz, the remake will be “an American-style anime” that will bring out the characters’ backstories. I’m assuming that means he will utilize the same characters from the Romero original, but update them for contemporary audiences.

According to THR, apparently the filmmakers will be breaking in a new filming technology called “The Beast” to make the movie. What is “The Beast”?

[The Beast] allows filmmakers the ability to direct CG performances the same way they would direct real live actors. The aim of the process is to make tennis balls on a stick representing real people or monsters a thing of the past by allowing actors interact with CG elements as if they are tangible.

The whole thing will be shot in the currently very trendy 3D format, and George Romero will not get a piece of the action. Which sort of justifies George continuing to make all those zombie movies. The man is just trying to get a piece of his, as it were. I think we can all understand that, even as the quality of his zombie movies continue to decline with each new one.

The only thing creepier than a zombie girl? Black and white zombie girl with a weird green tint.