Is Zombieverse scripted like other South Korean zombie films and TV shows? When Netflix announced its lineup for Korean variety shows, one of the notable shows on the list was Zombieverse.
With the series now on air, we can't help but wonder if Zombieverse is scripted.
Who Are the Creatives Behind Zombieverse?
Unlike other TV shows, Zombieverse is actually a survival reality show. It was created by Moon Sang Don and Park Jin Kyung. The show is produced in partnership with Kakoa Entertainment.
The reality show will remind you of the popular Korean show that came out in January 2022, All of Us Are Dead. And that's because the art team behind the show also worked on the set of Zombieverse.
The action choreographer of Kingdom is also part of making the reality series. This alone is already pretty promising for the show.
When is Zombieverse Coming Out?
The reality show got released on Netflix on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.
There are a total of eight episodes in the series. Another Korean unscripted reality show on Netflix, Physical: 100, had more episodes, with a total of nine.
An official trailer was released on July 25, 2023. You can watch it here:
Is Zombieverse Scripted?
The official synopsis of Zombieverse reads:
"In Seoul, where a zombie virus outbreak has run amok, who will outwit the undead in the face of challenging quests and come out alive?"
The teaser reveals that the contestants in the show need to accomplish daily tasks in order to survive. Just like in a TV show, they will have to look for food, shelter, transportation, and other items.
To stay in the game, they will have to work together and avoid getting bitten. Anyone who gets bitten will have to be left behind--after all, we all know it's always a bad idea to tag along with someone with a zombie scratch or bite.
Zombieverse is a reality competition set in a make-believe Seoul with a zombie outbreak. Although some of the contestants are actors and influencers, the show is not scripted at all.
The show starts with the Zombieverse contestants sitting in a private room in a restaurant where they are made to believe they are watching a reality dating show happen before them.
From their TV monitor, they are shocked to see the dating show contestants kissing each other upon the first meeting. But after a few candidates, they come across a contestant who suddenly bites off the neck of her date.
From there, chaos ensues. Everyone in the restaurant starts scrambling for safety. In the rumble of blood and panic, the show producer hurries to tell the unsuspecting contestants to run for safety.
They leave the vicinity and hurry to evade the zombies. What happens next is pure entertainment as the contestants don't have a clue they are on a reality show.
Will There Be Actual Zombies?!
But will there be actual zombies in Zombieverse? Thankfully, no.
As far as we know, there aren't any real zombies in the world yet (unless world governments are keeping it secret).
Aside from the contestants in Zombieverse, the show will have paid actors who will be acting as zombies. The list of contestants, however, includes the following names:
- Lee Si Young - South Korean actress who was in Sweet Home
- Ro Hong Chul - South Korean entertainer famous for other shows like The Hungry and the Hairy and Infinite Challenge
- Kim Cheol/DinDin - South Korean rapper and TV personality
- Park Na Rae - South Korean DJ and comedian
- Yoo Hee Kwan - South Korean baseball player
- Fukutomi Tsuki - Japanese singer in the K-pop group, Billie
- Hong Seong Woo - South Korean urologist, professor, and YouTuber
- Yiombi Jonathan - TV personality
- Yiombi Patricia - TV personality
- Kim Jin Young/Dex - South Korean vlogger who was also in Single's Inferno Season 2
- Kkwachu Hyung - Not much is known about Kkwachu Hyung at this time but we'll meet him when the show comes out in August.
Netflix released a video with the contestants of Zombieverse. You can watch it here:
This isn't actually the first time a zombie reality series was developed. There were actually a couple of experimental shows with the theme – I Survived a Zombie Apocalypse in 2015 and Reality Z in 2020.
But Netflix's Zombieverse comes as a pretty interesting show to look forward to.
With Lee Si Young included in the show, we're excited to see her in action! In the meantime, check out this clip of the bravest contestants on the show:
RELATED: Zombieverse: How Does the Reality Show Work?
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