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Netflix continues investing in South Korean TV shows and films. This time they’re releasing a show on August 8th that pits reality contestants against a totally (not) real zombie invasion of Seoul. With the success of Squid Games, Physical: 100, All of Us Are Dead, and more, Netflix would be wise to continue exploring this market, which they certainly are with Zombieverse.
Expanding into the South Korean market also couldn’t come at a better time for Netflix execs, considering that the writer’s strike in Hollywood puts a damper on most projects on this side of the globe. We can only hope that the writer’s demands are met, and Hollywood realizes that their projects are nothing without the writers and creative behind them.
Regardless, Netflix is no stranger to zombie content on its platform, especially from South Korea. Train to Busan has been a popular flick on the streaming service, #Alive came out just as the pandemic started and had us all empathizing with the character trapped inside (although not quite in the same situation), and Kingdom told us an epic tale about a medieval zombie epidemic ravaging 16th century Korea.
It’ll be interesting to see how their first reality zombie TV show fares against the rest of the South Korean zombie content on their platform, but it definitely seems like it could be a hit.
What is Zombieverse about?
Zombieverse is a South Korean reality Netflix Original series that puts its contests against a simulated, total zombie outbreak in Seoul. The setup is that the contestants believe they are participating in a reality dating show but quickly discover that there are no dates but a horde of bloodthirsty zombies. They’ll have to band together to escape the city and outrun the walking dead, or they’ll become a flesh-eater themselves.
The contestants will have to complete quests to gather the supplies they need and progress to the next stages, all while dodging bites and the undead. Contestants can work together—or against each other—as they try to make it to safety. As seen in the trailer, they’ll have to make tough decisions, like when one of the contestants asks, “Do we really have to rescue her?” “Her” being a girl locked in a cage about to be eaten by a zombie.
There’s definitely going to be a lot of drama within the show as they try to figure out who should be the leader—if there should even be one at all—and what the best course of action is. There’s also the so-called “boys versus girls” dilemma, which they briefly focus on in the trailer.
Who stars in Zombieverse?
There will be ten different cast members on Zombieverse, and if you are a fan of South Korean pop culture and celebs, you might recognize a few names from the following participants people have been able to make out.
- Lee Si Young, the actress who played Seo Yi Kyung in Sweet Home
- Noh Hong Chul, a South Korean TV entertainer
- Park Na-rae, a South Korean DJ and comedian who also starred in the reality show New World
- Kim Cheol, more commonly known by his rapper name ‘DinDin’
- Fukutomi Tsuki, a Japanese singer from the girl groups Billie and 7+ME LINK
- Yoo Hee Kwan, a South Korean baseball player for the Doosan Bears
- Johnathan Thona, a Congolese-Korean YouTuber who also starred in Racket Boys
- Patricia Yiombi, also a Congolese-Korean YouTuber
- Hong Seong Woo, a South Korean YouTuber, urologist, and professor.
There isn’t too much else to say about this reality series. It’s got zombies, it’s South Korean, and it looks like it could be a fun watch. If the previous Netflix Originals from South Korea are anything to go off of, you should definitely give this one a try. Just be sure to head to Netflix on August 8th when it finally releases.
