Marvel Meets The Walking Dead in Gory New Disney+ Series
It’s rare to even imagine Marvel and The Walking Dead mentioned in the same sentence. After all, one is known for larger-than-life superheroes saving the universe, while the other is a gritty survival tale where every day could be your last. But now, fans of both worlds have a reason to celebrate — or at least to prepare themselves for something darker than Marvel has ever shown before.
Disney+ has officially released the extended trailer for Marvel Zombies, an animated miniseries premiering on Sept. 24, and it looks like a blood-soaked thrill ride filled with shocking kills, desperate battles, and the kind of survival horror that The Walking Dead fans know all too well.
Marvel’s Deadliest Timeline Yet
The story is set in an alternate timeline first introduced in the animated series What If…?. In this twisted universe, a virus from the Quantum Realm spreads uncontrollably, transforming not just ordinary civilians but also Earth’s most powerful defenders — the Avengers themselves — into ravenous zombies. Suddenly, the very heroes who once saved humanity have become its deadliest predators.
The trailer shows glimpses of a fiery dystopia where chaos reigns. Familiar faces are now terrifying monsters, and the surviving humans are forced into a brutal fight for their lives. The stakes couldn’t be higher: they’re not just trying to stop the infected Avengers — they’re fighting to reclaim the planet itself.
Not for Kids — This Is Marvel Like You’ve Never Seen It
Before you assume this is another animated Marvel show in the same vein as What If…?, think again. The trailer wastes no time warning viewers that Marvel Zombies is not child-friendly. With a TV-MA rating (the first ever for a Marvel Disney+ series), the show leans heavily into horror, gore, and violence that puts it on par with the most shocking moments of The Walking Dead.
In fact, it’s a bold step for Marvel. While the MCU has always balanced humor, heart, and heroics, this new series dives headfirst into nightmare territory. For fans who’ve been craving a darker, scarier side of Marvel, this is it.
Why The Walking Dead Fans Should Pay Attention
At first glance, Marvel Zombies might seem like a niche series meant only for MCU diehards. But the truth is, it offers plenty for The Walking Dead audience as well. The core themes — survival against impossible odds, the horror of facing loved ones turned into monsters, and the resilience of humanity in the face of apocalypse — are the very foundation of what made AMC’s zombie saga so addictive.
Sure, you won’t find Rick Grimes or Daryl Dixon wandering through this animated wasteland. But with Daryl Dixon season 3 offering only a handful of episodes when it returns on Sept. 7, Marvel Zombies arrives at the perfect time to fill that zombie-sized gap. And unlike the slow-burn style of The Walking Dead, Marvel’s take promises fast-paced action, larger-than-life battles, and a brand-new twist on the zombie genre.
A Four-Episode Event to Kick Off Fall
The series will consist of just four episodes, all of which will drop simultaneously on Sept. 24. That means fans will be able to binge the entire story in one sitting, making it an event-style premiere that feels tailor-made for the streaming era.
Like WandaVision and Agatha All Along, Marvel Zombies tells a complete story within its limited run. You don’t need to be caught up on every corner of the MCU to enjoy it — the series is designed to stand on its own, while still offering Easter eggs and connections for longtime Marvel fans. And since it’s part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it might even plant seeds that pay off in future live-action movies.
A Stacked Voice Cast
Adding to the excitement, Marvel is bringing back a massive lineup of fan-favorite actors to voice their characters. The cast includes:
- Awkwafina
- David Harbour
- Simu Liu
- Elizabeth Olsen
- Randall Park
- Florence Pugh
- Paul Rudd
- Wyatt Russell
- Hailee Steinfeld
- Tessa Thompson
- Dominique Thorne
- Iman Vellani
- Todd Williams
Hearing these stars reprise their iconic roles will give the animated series a sense of continuity and authenticity, grounding this twisted alternate reality within the broader Marvel universe.
The Bottom Line
At its core, Marvel Zombies is more than just another superhero spinoff. It’s Marvel experimenting with a genre long dominated by shows like The Walking Dead — the zombie apocalypse — and injecting it with its own brand of spectacle. For Marvel fans, it’s a must-watch because of its place in Phase Six. For Walking Dead fans, it’s a chance to see familiar zombie horror themes play out in an entirely new way.
If you’ve been waiting for Marvel to take a risk and dive into darker, bloodier storytelling, your wish has been granted.
👉 Watch the full trailer here: Marvel Zombies Official Trailer
Marvel Zombies premieres Wednesday, Sept. 24 on Disney+, dropping all four episodes at once. Get ready — this is Marvel like you’ve never seen it before.
