Night of the Living Dead is rising from the dead to invade movie theaters once again, this time it will be made in a CGI 3D format without the involvement of it’s creator George Romero. This is possible due to the fact that the film is public domain. Why is the film public domain? Because the original films distributor really screwed up. The film will be called, Night of the Living Dead: Origins, and is being re-imagined by first time feature director Zebediah de Soto. He has previously done some great trailer work for Bloody-Disgusting, Dread Central, and Screamfest.

This little project could end up being pretty cool. Here is a description of how this came about and their plan on tackling the story and effects.

On the story front, De Soto, who wrote the script with David R. Schwartz, wants to update the tale partially by bringing out the characters’ backstories and make what he called “an American-style anime.”

The latter will be done by using new technology the filmmaker is inventing. De Soto, along with partner Gus Malliarodaki founded New Golden Digital, a digital effects company which develops cutting-edge hardware and software.

The duo created and designed a real-time effects system, known as ‘The Beast’, which allows filmmakers the ability to direct CG performances the same way they would direct real live actors. The aim of the process is to make tennis balls on a stick representing real people or monsters a thing of the past by allowing actors interact with CG elements as if they are tangible.

Matty Miranda and Anthony Le are executive producing. George Passakos is co-executive producing while Warren Davis and Tiffany Shinn acts as associate producers.

De Soto, who has no agent or manager, directed a short titled “War Dogs” – sort of Vietnam War set in space – that made the rounds in Hollywood late last year. West (the director of movies such as “Con Air,” “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” and the upcoming TV show “Human Target”) and Polhemus were impressed at how the short manage to look like the production had a higher budget than it actually did, and began looking for a project to partner on.

De Soto was a fan of the original “Living Dead” and once the trio realized the rights were in the public domain, zeroed in on that project.

I am a pretty hardcore zombie fan and I am excited to see this new CGI technology in zombified action, but why go into the realm of remaking a classic film? Why not develop a new and original zombie film using the same technology? Personally I think that would be a better way to go. Even thought we have seen Night of the Living Dead done to death, we haven’t seen it in 3D CGI. What do you all think about this new zombie project?

Here is some work from De Soto.

Source: Bloody-Disgusting