Generation Z: Ben Wheatley’s Zombie Series ‘Tonally Fits In The World Of Sightseers’

Ben Wheatley is no stranger to shock and gore (try watching Kill List or In The Earth without wincing), societal satire (High-Rise), genre thrills (Free Fire), and sly humour (basically all of his films – even the bleakest ones). And his next project looks set to combine all of those facets – get ready for Generation Z, a flesh-eating horror-comedy series in which the old are quite literally eating the young. All six episodes of the Channel 4 series are written and directed by Wheatley, taking an initial horror pitch from George Faber and spinning it into a gory tale of generational divide.

For Wheatley, it’s a series set to sit alongside one of his most beloved works – the darkly funny, often shocking, definitively British caravan-dwelling killer romp Sightseers. “I was thinking a lot about my own films, because they tentatively fit together,” he tells Empire on set. “Tonally, [Generation Z] fits within the world of Sightseers. It’s [that] same thing of taking genre situations and putting real people in them.” The inspirations, he says, are not other zombie tales – more “Threads and Scooby-Doo”. And like fellow British takes on the subgenre, he’s twisting the zombie mythology. “They’re not really zombies. It’s like a viral infection,” he teases. “Zombie apocalypses are normally unexplained. This is more science-based.”

In true Wheatley style, Generation Z marks another total pivot from his previous work – he last delivered Jason Statham-starring mega-shark sequel Meg 2: The Trench. “I like that contrast,” he says of the switch-up. “It’s all fun. There’s a weird perception that it’s only good to be going up in budget. But it’s not that — it’s the difference between an acoustic album and a rock album. You take pleasure from both styles.” Get ready to reign in blood.

Read Empire’s full Generation Z set report in the 40 Years Of The Terminator issue – on sale Thursday 26 September. Pre-order a copy online here. Generation Z is coming to Channel 4 next month.