The Seabrook saga isn't over. Honestly, after Zombies 3 sent Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly into the literal stars with that whole alien plotline, most of us figured the franchise had taken its final bow. But Disney knows a hit when they see one. Production on Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires (the working title that's basically been confirmed by the studio) is well underway, and the Disney Zombies 4 cast is shaping up to be a weird, exciting mix of the "OG" crew and a fresh batch of supernatural high schoolers.
It's actually happening in New Zealand this time around. That’s a shift from the previous Toronto filming locations. Why does that matter? Well, the vibe is shifting. We’re moving away from the neon-pink perfection of Seabrook and heading into a road trip arc. Zed and Addison are graduating, which means the stakes are higher, the songs are likely more "theatrical pop," and the cast list is expanding to include characters that aren't just zombies, werewolves, or aliens.
Now we’ve got vampires. Finally.
The Big Returns: Who’s Actually Coming Back?
Let’s get the obvious out of the way. You can't have this franchise without Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly. They aren't just starring; they are executive producing this time. That’s a huge move for them. It suggests they have a lot of creative say in how Zed and Addison’s story wraps up—or continues.
Milo is back as Zed. He’s the heart of the show. Meg is back as Addison. Their chemistry is basically what kept the first three movies glued together when the plots got a little... out there. But they aren't the only ones returning to the Disney Zombies 4 cast.
Chandler Kinney is confirmed to return as Willa. Thank goodness, because the werewolves were arguably the best part of the second movie. Kylee Russell is also back as Eliza, though her role has historically shifted a bit depending on her real-life filming availability. We’re also seeing Malachi Barton return.
But here’s the thing. Not everyone is coming back. That’s the nature of "graduation" movies. When you move the setting from a high school to a summer road trip, you lose some of the background characters that made Seabrook feel like home. It’s bittersweet, but it clears the deck for the new blood. Literally.
The New Blood: Meeting the Vampires and Mystery Characters
Disney officially announced the newcomers a while back, and the internet has been dissecting their social media ever since. The big news is the introduction of the vampires.
- Freya Skye as Nova: Freya is a massive talent from the UK (she represented them in Junior Eurovision). She’s playing Nova, and if the rumors from the set are true, she’s a lead vampire with a bit of an edge.
- Malachi Barton as Victor: Wait, didn't I mention him? Yes, but his role is expanding. He’s central to the new dynamic.
- Malthea (played by Malia Baker): You might recognize Malia from The Baby-Sitters Club or Descendants: The Rise of Red. She’s joining the Disney Zombies 4 cast in a role that’s been described as "pivotal."
There’s also Swayam Bhatia and Julian Lerner.
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Julian Lerner is a name you should watch. He was fantastic in The Wonder Years reboot. In Zombies 4, he’s playing a character named Ray. Swayam Bhatia is playing Vera. We don't know much about Vera yet, but the costume leaks suggest she’s part of this new supernatural faction that Zed and Addison encounter while traveling.
The vampires are expected to be the main "antagonists" who eventually become allies—following the standard Zombies formula. But Disney is trying to make them feel different from the Twilight or Vampire Diaries tropes. Expect more high-fashion, "alt-pop" aesthetics rather than capes and coffins.
Why the Location Change Matters for the Cast
Filming in New Zealand isn't just a tax break thing. It changes the physical demands on the Disney Zombies 4 cast. The director, Paul Hoen—who has directed every single Zombies movie so far—wanted a landscape that felt "uncharted."
If Zed and Addison are leaving Seabrook to explore the world before college, they need to look like they are actually somewhere else. New Zealand offers that misty, prehistoric greenery that fits the vibe of a world where vampires and werewolves hide in the shadows. For the actors, this meant a lot of outdoor choreography.
Milo Manheim mentioned in a few interviews that the dancing this time is "next level." When you're filming on location instead of a soundstage in Canada, the terrain becomes a character. We’re seeing more "adventure" elements. It’s less High School Musical and more Descendants meets Percy Jackson.
The Casting Logic
Disney is being very smart here. By bringing in Malia Baker and Freya Skye, they are bridging two different fanbases. Malia is already a Disney darling thanks to Descendants, and Freya brings in that international music crowd. It’s a calculated move to ensure Zombies 4 doesn't just feel like a tired sequel, but a soft reboot of the entire brand.
What About the "Missing" Characters?
People keep asking about Trevor Tordjman (Bucky). As of right now, his involvement in the Disney Zombies 4 cast is a bit of a question mark. Bucky is a fan favorite, but since he’s older and "went to space" (sort of) in the last one, it’s hard to fit him into a road trip movie without it feeling forced.
The same goes for some of the other human cheerleaders. If the movie isn't set in Seabrook High, the cheer squad doesn't have a natural place to exist.
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That’s a risk. The "human vs. monster" conflict was the backbone of the first two films. If you remove the humans almost entirely to focus on vampires vs. zombies, you might lose that social commentary that made the first movie surprisingly deep. But let's be real: most people are here for the "Someday" reprises and the neon hair.
Rumors vs. Reality: The "Zombies 5" Casting Calls
There’s been some chatter on TikTok and casting boards about Zombies 5 already. While Disney hasn't greenlit a fifth movie officially, the way they’ve structured the Disney Zombies 4 cast tells you everything you need to know.
They are casting younger.
By bringing in actors who are in their mid-teens while Milo and Meg are in their 20s, Disney is preparing for a hand-off. It’s the "passing of the torch" model. It happened with High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, and it’s happening here. Nova and Victor are likely the future of the franchise if Zombies 4 performs well on Disney+.
Plot Beats That Affect the Cast Chemistry
The movie starts with Zed and Addison during the summer after high school. They’re traveling in a "Z-moke" van (okay, maybe not called that, but you get the idea). They stumble upon two mysterious sun-drenched communities.
One is called Sunnyside. The other is Shadyside.
This setup allows the Disney Zombies 4 cast to split into groups. You’ll have the "Seabrook crew" trying to navigate these new cultures. It’s a classic "fish out of water" story. The chemistry will rely heavily on how Milo and Meg interact with the new vampires. Reports suggest there’s a bit of a "rivalry" between the zombies and the vampires.
Think about it: Zombies are slow (usually), dead-ish, and earthy. Vampires are fast, elegant, and "cool." It’s a natural friction point for comedy and dance-offs.
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The Music Factor
We have to mention the music because it dictates the casting. Disney didn't just hire actors; they hired singers. Freya Skye’s voice is powerhouse level. Julian Lerner has a theater background.
Expect the soundtrack to lean heavily into the "Vampire" sound—likely something synth-heavy and a bit more "moody" than the bubblegum pop of the first film. The Disney Zombies 4 cast spent weeks in "Zombies Boot Camp" before filming started, which is basically a grueling dance and stunt training period.
Navigating the Evolving Fandom
The Zombies fandom is intense. They don't like change. When the aliens were introduced in the third movie, the reaction was... mixed. Some loved the cosmic scale; others thought it jumped the shark.
The producers seem to be course-correcting by returning to "Earth-based" monsters like vampires. It feels more grounded in the original lore. By keeping Milo and Meg at the center, they are keeping the "old guard" happy while the new cast members bring in the Gen Alpha viewers who are just discovering the series.
What You Should Do Next
If you're tracking the Disney Zombies 4 cast, the best place to find real-time updates isn't actually the big news sites—it's the actors' Instagrams.
- Follow Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly: They’ve been posting "behind the scenes" snippets from New Zealand that show more of the sets than the official trailers do.
- Check the New Zealand "sightings" tags: Locals in Auckland have been spotting the cast at cafes, and you can often see who is hanging out with whom, which gives away plot alliances.
- Watch the "Zombies: The Re-Animated Series": If you can't wait for the movie, the animated series actually uses the same voice cast and has been dropping hints about the vampire lore for months.
The movie is expected to drop in 2025 or early 2026. Given the production cycle, we’re likely looking at a "Summer Event" release. Keep an eye on the official Disney+ social accounts for the first teaser trailer, which usually drops about six months before the premiere.
The biggest takeaway? The franchise is growing up. The cast is older, the themes are shifting toward "finding your place in the world" rather than just "fitting in at school," and the addition of vampires is going to shake up the power dynamics in a way that werewolves never quite did. It’s a new era for Seabrook—even if they aren't actually in Seabrook anymore.