Milo Manheim, star of Disney Channel’s popular Zombies film series, says he is eager to return to the stage while remaining devoted to the hit franchise. Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, Manheim expressed his long-term goals of balancing film and theater.
“I absolutely hope to do more theater,” said Manheim, who recently played Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors off-Broadway and starred in a Los Angeles production of American Idiot. “The plan is to go back and forth between film and theater for the rest of my life.”
Manheim added that a Broadway role is something he actively hopes for. “Broadway is calling my name. I can hear it all the way here in L.A.,” he said.
Despite his passion for theater, Manheim has no plans to step away from Zombies, the Disney musical series that began in 2018. Alongside co-star Meg Donnelly, who plays Addison, Manheim has led all four films as Zed. Both stars also took on executive producer roles for the newest installment.
“I absolutely will be involved with Zombies for as long as it exists, absolutely behind the camera,” said Manheim. “And if the Zombies universe calls for more Zed and Addison, I’m sure we’ll be back. If not, this film was a pretty good goodbye.”
Zombies 4 introduces a new storyline involving vampires and “daywalkers,” with a younger cast taking center stage. Donnelly said passing the torch was a key moment in the film: “That’s the coolest thing—being able to pass this franchise to a whole new group of kids.”
Director Paul Hoen, who has helmed all four Zombies movies, said he didn’t expect the franchise’s success. “I was just trying to put fires out when I joined the first film. I think I was as surprised as anybody,” he said.
The franchise has gained a strong following among young viewers. The soundtracks for Zombies and Zombies 3 both reached number one on Billboard’s Top Kid Albums chart. Many cast members credit the series’ lasting appeal to its message of inclusion and acceptance.
Swayam Bhatia, who plays a new character named Vera, emphasized the significance of the films’ themes. “The message of not judging people for what they look like or believe in is something we’ll always need. I love that we keep sharing it in different ways.”
With its musical format, diverse cast, and socially relevant storylines, the Zombies series continues to resonate with new audiences—even as its original stars look toward new horizons.
