Devon Sawa Brings Isaac Horton to Life
Veteran actor
Devon Sawa has officially joined the cast of the upcoming film
Return of the Living Dead, directed by Steve Wolsh from his own script. Sawa will portray Isaac Horton, anchoring a new family storyline within the cult horror-comedy universe. Joining him are Casimere “Cash” Jollette (
Tiny Pretty Things) as Delilah Horton, and Kynlee Heiman (
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever) as Sophia Horton.
A Legendary Monster Returns
Another key casting announcement confirms that
Alexander Ward, an acclaimed stunt performer and creature actor, will step into the role of the franchise’s most iconic ghoul: Tarman. Ward’s extensive résumé includes work in
Teen Wolf,
Annabelle Comes Home,
Westworld, and
American Horror Story, making him a fitting choice to embody one of horror’s most recognizable monsters.
Not a Reboot, But a New Installment
According to Living Dead Media, this project is not a reboot but a continuation of the original saga. The story is set in
Christmas 1985, 18 months after the chaotic events of Dan O’Bannon’s 1985 classic. In that film, a deadly chemical accident at the Uneeda Medical Supply warehouse unleashed a plague of zombies, leaving a small town in ruin and cementing the movie as a cult favorite.
Celebrating 40 Years of Cult Horror
The new installment was first teased in December 2024, when Wolsh released an eerie promo featuring Tarman dragging a Christmas tree through a snow-covered cemetery, underscored by a haunting rendition of “Silent Night.” The film is slated for release in 2025, timed to mark the
40th anniversary of the original
Return of the Living Dead—a milestone for one of horror cinema’s most beloved franchises.
The Legacy Lives On
With Sawa leading the cast and Ward embodying the terrifying Tarman, Wolsh’s film aims to honor the legacy of O’Bannon’s original while carving out a fresh chapter for longtime fans. For horror enthusiasts, the return of this franchise offers both nostalgia and the promise of a reimagined nightmare set against a chilling holiday backdrop.
