Syfy Sets Zombie Series

Syfy will look to take a bite of the zombie drama genre with the fall debutt of Z Nation, the network announced Monday.

The 13-episode zombie series produced by The Asylum (Sharknado), follows the cross country journey of zombie virus survivors transporting the only known survivor of the plague, said network officials. Karl Schaefer (Eerie Indiana, Eureka, The Dead Zone) will serve as executive producer and showrunner. Z Nation adds to the current list of original series from the zombe-themed genre, which includes AMC’s The Walking Dead and BBC America’s In The Flesh.

Z Nation is a unique new journey into the long established zombie genre. Instead of existential despair, the series offers hope that somehow, some way, humanity will not only survive, but triumph,” said Chris Regina, Senior Vice President, Programming, Syfy in a statement. “In producing their first ever weekly series, our long-time partners The Asylum have created a different way of telling an iconic story.”

The announcement follows on the heels of the network’s greenlight of another 13-part series, Olympus, which will follow the world of humans, Gods and monsters.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.