Latest news with #Zombies4:DawnoftheVampires
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim talk new film ‘Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires'
ABC News' Will Reeve is joined by the stars of Disney's film series 'Zombies' to discuss the latest challenge their characters face in the movie 'Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.'
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
💥 Up, up and away! 💥
We're feeling pretty super, man. The Man of Steel is back on movie screens, and thankfully, this one's not a sourpuss: David Corenswet takes his turn with the cape and tights in James Gunn's "Superman," an exciting intro to the rebooted DC superhero universe. The character has been a pop-culture icon for 80-plus years, so anytime there's a new one, it's a big deal. Also worth watching is "Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires," the latest in Disney's teen musical franchise with rising star Milo Manheim. And speaking of kids, yours might be watching more than usual since it's summer break, so we've got new guides for what and how much to watch. Now on to the good stuff: See David Corenswet as the newest Man of Steel in James Gunn's 'Superman' I talked with a bunch of "Superman" cast members, and while they all say similarly, Rachel Brosnahan says it best about David Corenswet: "He is Superman." I had an in-depth conversation with the latest Man of Steel about bringing "dad energy" to the role as a new father and what qualities he shares with the big blue Boy Scout. "We can be a force for calm and reassurance and centeredness even in the most tumultuous times in life," Corenswet says. And he's the main reason why "Superman" works so well. Director James Gunn has created a highly enjoyable adventure in a busy universe that feels electric and meaningful. (Peep my ★★★½ review.) Also, as part of our round-the-clock "Superman" coverage, we've got an exclusive look at the Daily Planet, a parent's guide for those with superhero-loving kids, an updated ranking of the top 50 superhero movies, plus a rundown of the best screen Supermen. Stream Disney's 'Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires' with Milo Manheim As the father of a tween girl, I was an early adopter of Disney's "Zombies," the 2018 fantasy musical comedy about a football-playing zombie (Milo Manheim) going to a "normal" high school and falling for cheer captain Addison (Meg Donnelly). It was a breezy and fun flick that birthed a loyal fandom, more movies and more monsters (including werewolves and aliens). For the premiere of "Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires," Manheim stopped by our studio for a photo shoot, plus we chatted about his "weird" career and recent run as Seymour in the off-Broadway revival of "Little Shop of Horrors." Being in the show "fueled everything," he says. "It fueled my drive, my excitement, my passion. It also fueled my fear, for sure, but that's the best part of it." "Zombies 4" is among several new movies on streaming this week, a list that also includes the thrillers "Opus" and "Drop," plus Tyler Perry's latest "Madea" comedy. Get a handle on your kids' screen time this summer Summertime means no school for the youngsters and more hours to watch TV and spend time on various screens and devices. TV critic Kelly Lawler talked with doctors, media experts and television creators, exploring how to navigate screen time, what children should be watching, and the things that you may want them to avoid. She's included a guide to the best TV shows for elementary-age kids, such as "Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man," "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Kelly doesn't forget the adults, though: She has a guide to all the new TV streaming this week, like the return of Michael C. Hall's fan-favorite serial killer in "Dexter: Resurrection." Even more goodness to check out! Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@ and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Milo Manheim Meg Donnelly Zombies 4 Guess Who
It's no secret that Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly are Disney royalty for this generation of Disney kids. The duo have starred together as Zed and Addison in four Zombies movies since 2018, with the fourth one being released this week. The new movie, titled Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, is set to follow Zed and Addison when their summer road trip takes an unexpected detour — landing them in the middle of a monster rivalry: Daywalkers vs. Vampires. As tensions flare, Zed and Addison find themselves as camp counselors between the two opposing sides, with hopes of convincing sworn enemies to unite their warring worlds as an even bigger threat looms on the horizon. Alongside Milo and Meg, Chandler Kinney, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Julian Lerner, Swayam Bhatia, and Mekonnen Knife also star. So, to celebrate the fourth installment of this Disney franchise, we had Milo and Meg play a game of Guess Who, but featuring their costars, friends, Disney characters, and more. And this isn't a regular game of Guess Who, Milo and Meg were asking some pretty hilarious questions in order to narrow down who the other person has. From Milo asking if Meg would fart in front of this person... ...to Meg actually crying just thinking about if Milo and her person were roommates. The whole thing is hilarious and wholesome, and just continues to prove that they are one of the best Disney Channel duos. Period. You can watch their full Guess Who game below: And be sure to watch Milo and Meg in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires on Disney Channel and Disney+.
National Geographic
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- National Geographic
How vampires became allergic to the sun
In the 1922 film, Nosferatu, the main character gets struck by sunlight and bursts into flames a few seconds later. This moment caused a key shift in vampire folklore, creating the concept that vampires are night creatures who are unable to exist in the sunlight. Photograph Courtesy of Allstar Picture Library Ltd, Alamy Stock Photo The trope of vampires burning in the sun is a 20th century invention—but daywalkers are making a comeback. Thanks to centuries of folklore, novels, movies, and TV shows, the tropes of vampires are carved deep into the popular imagination: The creatures drink blood, sleep in coffins, recoil from garlic and crucifixes, and are susceptible to a wooden stake through the heart. Perhaps most of all, they're creatures of the night who can't handle daylight. But that's not always the case. Some vampire stories even imagine the mirror opposite, a parallel creature who can exist in the sun: a daywalker. The daywalker is both a new idea in vampire lore and an old one—a testament to the endless flexibility of these creatures as a narrative device. (Tracing the blood-curdling origins of vampires, zombies, and werewolves.) With the release of Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, available now on Disney Channel and Disney+, we took a look at how the vampire trope has evolved. The origins of nightwalkers Vampire lore is rich, diverse, and very old, with deep roots in folklore, and the creatures have a long association with darkness and nighttime. Humans have even used this to their advantage: 'Specifically in China, there was this idea that if you put out a bag of rice in front of your home and the vampire of Chinese mythology comes across a bag of rice, they will obsessively count every grain, and then they won't realize that the sun is coming up,' says Laura Westengard, professor of gothic literature at the New York City College of Technology, CUNY. In Bram Stoker's 1897 Dracula, although weaker during the daytime, Dracula was still able to live in sunlight without burning. Illustration Courtesy of the British Library archive, Bridgeman Images But many of the vampires of the 19th century's great wave of Western European vampire literature were in fact capable of moving around in the sunlight. The creatures of John Polidori's 1819 The Vampyre, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu's 1872 Carmilla, and even Bram Stoker's 1897 Dracula were weaker in the daytime, but they didn't catch like a pile of tinder. 'They prefer to be sleeping, but they are not going to burn up and die,' says Westengard. ('Faerie smut' is having a moment — just like it did in 1500.) That narrative development owes much to F.W. Murnau's silent 1922 German Expressionist film Nosferatu, which drew heavily on Stoker's Dracula but added a major twist: At the end, the malignant Count Orlok is caught out by the rising sun and vanishes in a puff of fire. 'That's where it starts, that one particular moment, that little change that he makes, which is only about three seconds of the movie,' says Stanley Stepanic, assistant professor at the University of Virginia. It's not entirely clear why Murnau did it, but the addition has proven tenacious. 'That shift in folklore occurs right there, and afterwards we see it becoming a big theme.' How daywalkers became more prominent By the late 1990s, vampire vulnerability to sunlight was so deeply ingrained in popular culture that Ray Ban made it the punchline in a cheeky late '90s ad campaign, featuring stylish vamps protected by the brand's offerings. It's one of the tropes that writers using vampire lore are obliged to tackle, weaving their interpretation of the rule into their worldbuilding. Twilight author Stephanie Meyer famously chalked her vampires' preference for darkness and rainy gloom up to the necessity of concealing their sparkly skin. But a huge part of the perennial power in vampire lore lies in the possibilities for reinvention, so some stories choose to play with the power of a vampire-like creature that can also survive in the day. One of the best examples: the landmark 1998 superhero movie, Blade. Originally created as a Marvel superhero in the 1970s, Blade straddles the line between vampire and human. In both the comics and movie adaptation, his pregnant mother was bitten by a vampire, rendering him immune to a vampire's bite and especially gifted as a vampire hunter. But the movie ramped up both his abilities, Stepanic explains, giving Blade an ominous name—the Daywalker—and a heightened mystique among his enemies. The story pits Blade against a vampire society split between two rival factions: 'pureblood' vampires, born to vampire parents, and 'made' vampire, who were born human and later turned. The film climaxes with a vampire coup attempt that requires harvesting Blade's blood for an arcane ritual to summon an ancient god. It's Blade's existence caught between two worlds that makes him such an enigmatic and compelling character. Blade shows how centuries of vampire stories have spawned the creation of ever-more elaborate backstories and new plot twists that keep the mythology fresh and engaging to audiences. Reimagining the daywalker trope Another project that centers on the daywalker idea is Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires. The film is the latest installment in a Disney Channel original franchise that's fundamentally about conflict resolution and working through differences. Its first few iterations saw zombies versus cheerleaders, then integrated werewolves and aliens, and is now adding vampires to the mix—but with a twist. 'The story is about opposites, right? It's about opposites learning about each other,' says director Paul Hoen. Hence: nightwalkers versus daywalkers. From that basic idea, the team built out two parallel communities. The daywalkers live in and revere the sun, hence a town of glass, pools, and light, Hoen explains. They have the power to create a ball of energy they can use to do things like light fires and create fireworks. The vampires, meanwhile, have the power to control the wind. Since the franchise is aimed at kids, there's no immortality or blood drinking; instead, the two groups subsist off the same 'blood fruit.' Here, instead of using the daywalker trope to portray a blood-soaked world riven by insurmountable conflict, the Zombies 4 team turns it into a different theme. 'It's very much truthful to the Zombies franchise,' says Hoen. 'It's always been about tearing down walls. This is still a theme like that—we need to understand each other.' How the vampire archetype continues to evolve But the traditional nighttime-only vampire still holds tremendous sway in popular culture. Take Ryan Coogler's smash hit Sinners, which takes place over 24 hours as a pair of twin brothers launch a juke joint and then face a vampire named Remmick, who emerges out of the pitch-black Mississippi Delta night to besiege their establishment. The protagonists just have to make it through the night—if they can. Ultimately, Westengard explains, 'there's no one true version of a vampire.' But that's a huge part of what gives the vampire such power, and why these undead creatures reappear again and again in pop culture. 'We're able to project our anxieties and desires upon these figures and at any moment, what that looks like changes.' Vampires have emerged as charismatic, powerful, and elastic symbols that can serve an astonishing array of narrative needs: 'Over time, the vampire has transformed in media so much that it has become a general symbol of basically anything in human existence,' says Stepanic. Storytellers can use vampires any way they want, in any medium they want. 'It's become basically a mirror of the human race.'
Perth Now
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Aussie actor living out Disney Channel movie dream
For Australian-Ethiopian actor Mekonnen Knife, becoming a Disney Channel star is a magical dream come true. The 19-year-old, known as MK, stars in Disney's highly anticipated film Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, which premieres this week and will also be available on Disney+. The Shake Takes star shines as Vargas, a fun and lovable vampire, who meets Zedd (Milo Manheim) and Addison (Meg Donnelly) on a summer road trip during which they unexpectedly discover the warring worlds of Sunnyside and Shadyside and come into contact with two new groups of monsters. MK was born in Gerje Gefersa in Ethiopia but was raised in Queensland with his twin sister Berhani by their foster parents, who adopted the siblings. Like many young people, he grew up watching Disney Channel, which has been a career catapult for many major stars, including Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus, to name a few. 'I'm a Disney kid at heart. I grew up watching all of the Disney animation films and Disney movies. So being able to join the Disney franchise and the Disney family is just incredible,' he told PerthNow from a phone call in Los Angeles. 'They've been so kind to me, welcoming of me and my family, and so it's been absolutely incredible. It's quite magical being able to say that this is my job, and 10-year-old me would not even dream that I would be doing something like this. So it's really magical and really special.' Also, this month, MK will embark on the Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour, a one-of-a-kind interactive live concert experience coming to arenas across North America for 46 shows starting on July 17. He and his cast have finalised rehearsals, and the talented dancer and singer can't wait to perform the franchise's hit songs. 'I know if when I was a kid watching these movies, if I had something like this, I would be running to the website to get tickets, because this is an incredible thing, what they've done. It's a really cool, smart idea,' he said. MK found himself in the showbiz industry as a model at the age of 10, and began dancing at age 12 after a choreographer noticed his talent and encouraged him to enrol in dance classes, starting with ballet. He eventually earned a full scholarship to train in all forms of dancing in Australia, and, a few years later, landed the coveted role of Wolfie in the Australian production of Dracula's Cabaret. In 2019, MK won Australia's Dream Big Challenge and became a performer in Li Cunxin's ballet The Nutcracker with the QLD Ballet. For the next two years, MK attended dance school full-time before taking a break and pursuing acting. 'I think the thing I love about acting is to be able to portray different characters and be someone other than myself,' he said. 'I love acting, and I'm this is what I want to do for the rest of my life... as time goes on, I just want to continue to like, work on my art, and work on my technique of acting, and just get better and better and hopefully book more projects.' The teenager is also manifesting his next big break working alongside A-list celebrities. 'I'd love to work with Timothee Chalamet, he's been on my radar. He's a great actor. He's incredible. Also like Michael B Jordan. He's great,' he said. 'My dream director I'd love to work with one day is Ryan Coogler. He directed Sinners and Creed and Black Panther.' Despite moving to Australia in 2013, MK is yet to explore more of the country and wants to visit Perth for the first time soon. 'The plan is to come back to Australia after this project, after this tour. Other than that, not sure what other projects are lined up after this,' he said. When he is not on set, MK enjoys skateboarding, working out at the gym, or playing with his cavoodles, Dixie and Koda and his cat, Nugget. MK is also an activist at heart, volunteering for several organisations that help homeless and underprivileged people individuals such as the Grace Center Foundation (co-founded by his family) in Ethiopia.
