George A. Romero’s Night Of The Living Dead, the 1968 horror film that established most of the accepted zombie canon in use today, is getting an animated adaptation titled Night Of The Animated Dead. In the fifty-three years since its release, Night Of The Living Dead has become widely regarded as a cultural touchstone when it comes to the horror genre. The original film stars Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea, and follows a group of people trapped together in a rural farmhouse, seeking shelter from the zombies that surround them. Romero’s final zombie movie, Twilight Of The Dead, is currently in development and is based on a treatment that Romero wrote before his death in 2017.

Now, Romero’s legacy will also be honored by a new adaptation of Night Of The Living Dead. According to THR, Night Of The Animated Dead will be an animated feature-length film directed by Jason Axinn and released by Warner Bros. The voice cast stars Dulé Hill in the lead role of Ben, alongside Katharine Isabelle as Barbara and Josh Duhamel as Harry Cooper. The cast also includes James Roday Rodriguez, Will Sasso, Nancy Travis, Jimmi Simpson, and The Mandalorian’s Katee Sackhoff.

Zombies in Night of the Living Dead

 

Related: George Romero's Unmade Zombie Musical, Explained

There have been many remakes of Night Of The Living Dead over the years, but the shift into a whole new medium will certainly offer a unique take on the classic horror story. The original film’s statement on race in 1960s America has resonated with audiences for decades and remains as relevant as ever. The animated adaptation of Night Of The Living Dead is sure to be just as scary as the original and hopefully will be a fitting tribute to Romero as the godfather of the zombie movie.

Next: Why There Are So Many Night of the Living Dead Remakes

Source: THR