The Seabrook saga isn't over. Not even close. If you thought the alien invasion in the third movie was the peak of the weirdness, Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly are basically saying "hold my pom-poms." Production for the fourth installment, officially titled Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires, has been the worst-kept secret in New Zealand, where filming kicked off in early 2024. It’s funny because, for a while, everyone assumed the franchise would just die off after the graduation scene. But Disney knows a cash cow when they see one. Kids are still obsessed. Parents are still humming the songs. So, here we are, staring down the barrel of a fourth movie that shifts the "place to be" from the familiar neon streets of Seabrook to a literal road trip.
The New Place to Be Zombies 4 Is Actually Off the Map
Most fans are used to the bright, pastel-perfect suburban nightmare of Seabrook. It was the original place to be Zombies 4 targets for its starting point, but the plot quickly ditches the safety of the town. This time, Zed and Addison are hitting the road the summer after their freshman year of college. They aren't just looking for adventure; they’re looking for other monster colonies.
Think about the world-building Disney has done so far. First, we had the zombies (obviously) living in Zombietown. Then the werewolves came out of the Forbidden Forest. Then the aliens landed their mothership. Now? We're getting vampires. But these aren't your brooding, "sparkle in the sunlight" types. They’re called the Sunnyside Vampires. The movie introduces Nova and Victor, two bloodsuckers who seem friendly but, honestly, give off some seriously suspicious vibes. The "place to be" in this context is the open road, specifically leading to a mysterious location where these vampires have managed to hide from the rest of the monster-integrated world for decades.
It’s a huge risk. Road movies in musicals can feel clunky if the choreography doesn't have a solid stage. But director Paul Hoen, who has been the guiding hand behind the entire trilogy, is back. He knows the visual language of this world. He’s swapping the school hallways for rugged New Zealand landscapes that are doubling as the "great outdoors" of the Zombies universe.
Why the Vampire Expansion Changes Everything
Adding vampires isn't just a gimmick. It’s a power scale thing. In the previous movies, the conflict was always about integration. Can zombies play football? Can werewolves go to the cheer competition? By moving to a new place to be Zombies 4 introduces, the stakes shift toward survival and discovery.
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
- Milo Manheim (Zed) has been very vocal on social media about how this script feels "different." It’s more of an ensemble piece than ever.
- Meg Donnelly (Addison) is leaning into her alien heritage, which provides the actual catalyst for the journey.
- The Newcomers: Malachi Barton (from Villains of Valley View) and Freya Skye are the new faces representing the vampire faction.
The vampires bring a different aesthetic. If the zombies are neon green and the werewolves are earth tones and denim, the vampires are bringing a sleek, almost tech-heavy vibe to the screen. It’s a clash of subcultures. Honestly, seeing how a zombie interacts with a vampire is the kind of fan-service that keeps these franchises alive long after they should have ended. It’s basically monster high school politics on wheels.
Filming Realities and the New Zealand Backdrop
Why New Zealand? It’s not just because it’s pretty. Disney has been moving a lot of production there because the infrastructure is incredible and the tax breaks are better than what they’d get in North America. For Zombies 4, the "place to be" isn't just a fictional spot; it’s a massive set of practical locations. They aren't just using green screens. They are out in the forests, on the coasts, and in the mountains.
This gives the movie a sense of scale that the first three lacked. The first Zombies felt like a DCOM (Disney Channel Original Movie) in every sense—small, contained, almost theatrical. The second and third grew bigger, but this fourth one looks like it's trying to be a genuine "event" movie. You can see it in the casting calls for hundreds of extras and the increased budget for prosthetic effects.
The Music: Beyond the "Someday" Formula
You can't talk about the place to be Zombies 4 without talking about the soundtrack. The music is the heartbeat of this thing. We know that the songwriters are leaning into a more "pop-rock" and "electronic" hybrid for the vampire tracks. If the werewolves brought the heavy percussion and the zombies brought the hip-hop, the vampires are clearly the synth-pop entry.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
There’s a rumor—partially confirmed by some of the cast's TikTok leaks—that we’re getting a massive "battle of the bands" style number. It’s not just a song; it’s a narrative pivot. This is where the characters realize that the vampires might have an agenda that doesn't involve "peace and harmony."
Expect the Unexpected with Addison’s Identity
Wait. Remember the end of Zombies 3? Addison is part alien. Her grandmother is an alien scout. This changes the entire dynamic of the group. She’s no longer just the "human bridge" between groups; she’s a powerhouse in her own right. In the fourth movie, her alien tech is what helps them find the new place to be Zombies 4 revolves around.
The struggle for Addison in this film isn't about being accepted by humans. It’s about her feeling like she belongs anywhere. She’s a human-alien hybrid hanging out with a zombie boyfriend and werewolf best friends, heading toward a vampire coven. It’s a lot. The writing seems to be shifting toward a slightly more mature tone—not "adult," but certainly more "late teens/early adulthood" than the middle-school energy of the first film.
Is This the Last One?
Probably not. Disney is already talking about an animated series called Zombies: The Re-Animated Series. The brand is expanding. The "place to be" is becoming a multiverse of sorts. As long as the streaming numbers on Disney+ stay high, they will keep finding new monsters to introduce. Mummies? Gill-men? It’s all on the table.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
But Zombies 4 feels like a specific turning point. It’s the transition from "high school movie" to "adventure franchise." The stakes are higher because the characters are older. They have more to lose. Zed isn't just worried about a scholarship anymore; he’s worried about the safety of his entire species as they encounter vampires who might not be as "enlightened" as the residents of Seabrook.
Actionable Steps for Fans and Parents
If you're trying to keep up with the chaos, don't just wait for the trailer. Disney drops breadcrumbs across different platforms.
- Watch the Re-Animated Series: The animated shorts often hint at lore that the movies pick up. It's the best way to see which monsters might appear next.
- Follow the Choreographers: If you want to know what the "vampire style" looks like, look at the dance rehearsals posted by the New Zealand-based crew. It’s much sharper and more contemporary than the zombie "stomp" style.
- Check the Disney+ "Extras" Tab: There are often deleted scenes from Zombies 3 that explain more about the alien tech Addison uses in the new movie.
- Listen for the Lead Single: Disney usually releases the "main" song about two months before the movie drops. This song usually defines the theme of the new "place to be."
The move to New Zealand and the inclusion of vampires isn't just a sequel play—it’s a reboot of the franchise's energy. The place to be Zombies 4 creates is a world where the monsters are no longer the minority; they are the explorers. It’s a flip of the original script that keeps the series from feeling like a repeat of the same "acceptance" trope we've seen since 2018. Keep an eye on the official Disney Channel social feeds for the first teaser, which is expected to drop any day now, given the production timeline. This isn't just another sequel; it’s the start of a much larger monster world.