It has only been a few months since we learned that none other than George A. Romero’s son, Cameron, was quietly bringing a prequel to NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD to life. Titled ORIGINS, Variety got the word that Radar Pictures has come on board to produce the film with production set for later this year. I guess if there was going to be a prequel to one of the greatest indie horror films of all time, it's nice see that it landed in the lap of the creator's son. He does have some pretty big shoes to fill, though.
The project is set at the height of the Cold War, when one scientist tried to give the world its best hope for survival and instead unleashed its worse nightmare.
The new film’s story is by Romero, who will also direct, with a screenplay by Romero, Darrin Reed and Bryce C. Campbell. Radar’s Ted Field will produce with Aldo LaPietra, Campbell, Reed and Romero. Executive producers are Mike Weber and Thomas van Dell.
“‘Origins’ is a great opportunity for me to continue the family tradition of creating haunting and ever-evolving depictions of the undead, and a great opportunity for Romero fans to see a story of zombie inception never portrayed before,” Romero said.
NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD was released in 1968 and starred Duane Jones, Judith O’Dea and Karl Hardman. The film, which follows seven people trapped in a rural farmhouse attacked by zombies, was shot in black and white for $114,000 and grossed $30 millon worldwide, spawning five more “Living Dead” films.