Glitter Meets Gore: ‘Queens of the Dead’ Hits Theaters This Fall

Tina Romero, daughter of legendary filmmaker George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead), is stepping into her father’s undead legacy—on her own terms. Her directorial debut, Queens of the Dead, has just been acquired by Independent Film Company and horror streaming platform Shudder, according to Deadline.

The film is set to hit theaters in North America in Fall 2025.

Adam Koehler, Shudder’s Director of Acquisitions and Productions, shared his excitement:

“We’re beyond thrilled to bring this wildly original vision to audiences—a fearless, glam-drenched ride that’s as funny as it is ferocious. With razor-sharp direction and a fierce cast, Queens of the Dead is a thrilling new chapter in a legacy of horror royalty.”

Romero, speaking with Entertainment Weekly, emphasized her intent to honor her father’s legacy while forging her own path:

“The zombie apocalypse is such a rich sandbox to play in when it comes to social commentary. I can’t be my dad’s daughter without making an attempt at saying something with zombies,” she said. “I did want this to be a film in which I am paying homage to the world and the monster he created, but I’m also introducing my own voice.”

She added:

“It’s very much not a film he would make, but it is using his vocabulary and is playing by his rules. As far as the queer element, on one hand, I just feel like the gays need a zombie film. It’s time that we get to have a big gay zombie movie.”

The story follows a vibrant and chaotic ensemble of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies who must put aside their differences and fight for survival when a zombie apocalypse erupts mid-drag show in Brooklyn.

The film boasts a powerhouse cast including Katy O’Brian (Love Lies Bleeding), Margaret Cho (Fire Island), Brigette Lundy-Paine (I Saw the TV Glow), and Cheyenne Jackson (American Horror Story). They’re joined by Nina West (RuPaul’s Drag Race), Jaquel Spivey (Mean Girls), Tomas Matos (Fire Island), Quincy Dunn-Baker (No Hard Feelings), Becca Blackwell (Bros), Shaunette Renée Wilson (Black Panther), Dominique Jackson (Pose), Riki Lindhome (Knives Out), and Eve Lindley (Bros).

With glitter, guts, and social commentary, Queens of the Dead promises a zombie film like no other.