Having encountered zombie-adjacent dangers in The Last of Us series earlier this year, the threats are now coming closer to Asia in Netflix’s Zombieverse, set to release this year. This is not the first time we’ll be catching the general public in action against the living dead in the Korean context. Movies and shows like Train to Busan, All of Us Are Dead, Happiness, Kingdom and many more titles have previously dived head-first into this horror-driven theme of the survival quest. So, is the new South Korean Netflix title again bringing back a heart-thumping series centred around zombies, and the resulting nail-biting tension? Well, yes and no.
Working itself to the bone, the OTT platform recently rebranded its South Korean content division, making it clear enough that the people working behind the scenes of this channel have acknowledged how well K-content is working for them. Adding on to the heap of enthralling and adrenaline-rushing titles, the upcoming TV show deals with the same exciting storyline about the undead creatures out to get their living counterparts, but with a twist.
What is Netflix Zombieverse All About?
Instead of bringing out a drama series, Netflix is pitching a new reality TV concept with Zombieverse. Set in the South Korean capital Seoul, the “never-before-seen zombie variety series” will be accorded with a make-believe lookalike of reality that will push for the existence of the said creatures in the real world. The short teaser released by Netflix so far also doesn’t dwell on the fact that this is in fact a reality competition. The contestants involved can be seen kicking the threats away, compelling us to believe in the rise of the mythical creatures.
Going off with a conventional premise of the zombie virus outbreak, the OTT giant is twisting the way we perceive the content so offered to us by presenting it as a reality series instead of a fictional drama feature. Built around the Walking Dead-esque idea, the show has been produced by Park Jin-kyung and Moon Sang-don, and it will pit several challenges on the path of the survivors left behind who must work and brainstorm together to make ends meet and find food and shelter in their quest to stay alive in the competition.
And to clear your doubts (if you had them), there will be no real zombies. We’re yet to make contact with the infected foes in this life (unless world governments are keeping it all a secret). Plus, this isn’t the first attempt at making room for a zombie reality series. The 2015 I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse, the 2020 Reality Z and more were some of the previous experiments down this lane.
Now, it only remains to be seen whether the forthcoming South Korean title can be the front-running leader in this list or not. Releasing soon, the show’s producer also spoke with Netflix and expressed his determined stance on the format taking a different turn from the pre-existing zombie-themed content as “The likes of bumper car-steering or swing boat-riding zombies will entertain the viewers to their fullest”.
Zombieverse Cast
The ambitious project will star several contestants including South Korean entertainer and TV show host Ro Hong-chul, the Sweet Home actor Lee Si-young, comedian Park Na-rae, Tsuki of Billlie, ex-baseball pitcher Yoo Hee-kwan, Single’s Inferno 2‘s Kim Jin-young, rapper DinDin, Hong Seong-wu, YouTubers and TV personalities Jonathan and Patricia Yiombi. And as Park Jin-kyung has stated, the series will focus on “How would people react if zombies appear in the real world?”
Zombieverse Release Date and Trailer
Set to be an 8-part series, the show will release on Netflix on August 8, 2023. Catch the first 46 second-long teaser for the title below.
What are your thoughts on this new format of Korean reality shows. Do you think the upcoming reality show will strike a chord with the viewers and netizens? Let us know your opinions in the comments section below.
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