Cast of Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires – Full List 2025

The Disney Zombies franchise has always found clever ways to evolve its monster mythology—moving from werewolves to aliens, and now leaning fully into the undead royalty of the vampire world. For the fourth installment, Dawn of the Vampires, audiences are treated to both familiar faces and intriguing new blood. The cast additions include Malachi Barton as Victor (a nephew of the Eldress and future Vampire leader) and Freya Skye as Nova Bright (daughter of Commander Bright and future Daywalker leader), according to DisneyZombies Wiki. Production wrapped in New Zealand, and the film premiered on Disney+ in July 2025.

Director: Paul Hoen · Returning Lead: Milo Manheim as Zed · Returning Co-Lead: Meg Donnelly as Addison · New Cast Member: Freya Skye · Another New Face: Malachi Barton

The production and release data for Zombies 4 reveals a streamlined 17-month timeline from greenlight to premiere.

Who is the new cast for Zombies 4?

The casting announcements came in two waves. In February 2024, returning stars Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly were confirmed alongside the two headline newcomers: Freya Skye and Malachi Barton. A second wave in March 2024 added five more faces, according to Pop Culture Planet. The new ensemble brings energy and fresh stakes to a franchise that has steadily grown its audience with each installment.

Returning actors

Milo Manheim continues his journey as Zed Necrodopolis—the charming green zombie who has anchored the series since day one. Meg Donnelly returns as Addison Wells, and has added executive producer to her credits this time around. Kylee Russell comes back as Eliza Zambi, and Chandler Kinney resumes her role as Willa Lykensen, according to Wikipedia.

New vampire additions

• Malachi Barton as Victor, nephew of the Eldress and future Vampire leader
• Freya Skye as Nova Bright, daughter of Commander Bright and future Daywalker leader
• Sway Bhatia as Vera, a Vampire friend afraid of change
• Julian Lerner as Ray, Nova’s Daywalker best friend
• Mekonnen Knife as Vargas, Victor’s right-hand Vampire friend
• Lisa Chappell as the Eldress, Victor’s aunt and Vampire authority
• Jonno Roberts as Commander Bright, Nova’s father

The production team behind the film includes director Paul Hoen, writers David Light, Joseph Raso, and Josh A. Cagan, with producers David Light, Joseph Raso, and Effie T Brown. Casting was handled by Christina Asher, Danielle Aufiero, Amber Horn, and Steven Tylor O’Connor, per TV Guide.

What is the full cast of Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires?

Beyond the principal cast, the film features an expanded ensemble of supporting players and background roles that flesh out the vampire and Daywalker communities. These include dancers, guards, and specialized cast members who bring visual richness to the film’s monster factions, according to TV Guide.

Main cast

• Milo Manheim as Zed Necrodopolis
• Meg Donnelly as Addison Wells
• Malachi Barton as Victor
• Freya Skye as Nova Bright
• Kylee Russell as Eliza Zambi
• Chandler Kinney as Willa Lykensen

Supporting roles

• Sway Bhatia as Vera
• Julian Lerner as Ray
• Mekonnen Knife as Vargas
• Lisa Chappell as Eldress
• Jonno Roberts as Commander Bright
• Austin Taylor as Vampire Dancer
• Karlton Laing as Daywalker Guard
• Dustin Clapier as Vampire 2
• Noah Escott as Daywalker
• Teya Wild as Associate Choreographer

The complete verified cast list with all credits is available on IMDb, which tracks verified contributions from production through post-release, according to the Rotten Tomatoes aggregation of cast and crew data.

Who are key new characters like Nova, Freya, Victor and Daywalker?

The new characters in Zombies 4 are built around a binary power structure: Vampires and Daywalkers. Each new face serves a specific role within that mythology, and their relationships drive the film’s central tension.

Nova role

Nova Bright is a Daywalker—a hybrid being who stands between the vampire and human worlds. She is characterized as strong-minded, tough, and brave, with Freya Skye herself describing the role as “very strong minded, very tough, very brave. She is really the best.” Nova is the daughter of Commander Bright, making her part of a military dynasty within the Daywalker ranks. Her arc centers on stepping into a leadership role despite the weight of that lineage.

“Nova is very strong minded, very tough, very brave. She is really the best.”

— Freya Skye, actor portraying Nova Bright (Disney YouTube interview)

Freya Skye

This marks Freya Skye’s most prominent role to date. Beyond the character description, she brings physicality and emotional range to Nova, working opposite Julian Lerner as her Daywalker best friend Ray. Her chemistry with the ensemble cast was highlighted in the official Disney cast interview.

Victor casting

Victor is positioned as the counterweight to Nova—nephew of the Eldress and heir apparent to the Vampire throne. Malachi Barton describes Victor with a single word: swaggy. The character is confident, stylized, and represents the old guard of vampire authority confronting a changing world. His relationship with Vera (Sway Bhatia) and Vargas (Mekonnen Knife) forms the vampire power base.

“Victor is swaggy. That’s the word I keep using.”

— Malachi Barton, actor portraying Victor (Disney YouTube interview)

Daywalker

The Daywalkers represent a new faction in the franchise’s mythology. Ray (Julian Lerner) serves as Nova’s closest ally and confidant, navigating the same pressures of leadership and identity. Additional Daywalker roles include Noah Escott and Karlton Laing as Daywalker Guard, who appear in ensemble sequences, according to TV Guide.

What is the release date for Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires?

The film followed a compressed production-to-release timeline typical of Disney Channel Premier films, moving from greenlight to premiere in roughly 17 months. Production Weekly first revealed the project in development on November 22, 2023, with official greenlighting on February 10, 2024, per Wikipedia.

Filming status

• Development revealed: November 22, 2023
• Official greenlight: February 10, 2024
• Principal photography start: March 26, 2024, in New Zealand

Premiere details

Principal photography began March 26, 2024, in New Zealand, according to Wikipedia. The production chose New Zealand as its filming location, continuing a tradition in the franchise of shooting in locations that offer both urban and natural environments.

Has Zombies 5 been confirmed or casted?

The franchise has already looked beyond Zombies 4. According to Wikipedia, Zombies 5 was greenlit on March 2, 2026—ahead of Zombies 4’s actual premiere. This reflects Disney’s confidence in the brand’s continued performance and the audience’s appetite for ongoing installments.

Franchise future

The announcement came with a notable caveat: Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly will serve as executive producers on Zombies 5 but are not confirmed to reprise their roles as Zed and Addison. This leaves the door open for a generational shift in the franchise’s lead characters, potentially positioning Barton, Skye, and the next wave of young talent as the new anchors.

Casting rumors

No official casting announcements have been made for Zombies 5. Given the timeline—greenlit in March 2026—the production would likely move quickly into casting and pre-production if it follows the same compressed schedule as Zombies 4. Until an official announcement, any names associated with Zombies 5 beyond the confirmed executive producers should be treated as speculation.

Clarity on confirmed facts vs. rumors

When writing about an active franchise, it’s worth separating what is documented from what is still uncertain. The following reflects the current state of verified information versus areas where details remain incomplete or unconfirmed.

What the cast says about their characters

The cast has been vocal about their experiences filming the new installment. A YouTube cast interview hosted by Emily Nelson featured Manheim, Donnelly, Skye, Barton, Knife, Bhatia, and Lerner discussing their characters and the franchise’s evolution.

“I’m Zed the Zombie. Very charming, charismatic green machine.”

— Milo Manheim, actor portraying Zed (Disney YouTube interview)

The exchange offered insight into how the actors approach their characters within the heightened vampire mythology. Manheim leaned into Zed’s established charisma, while Skye and Barton worked to establish their characters’ distinct identities within the new factional structure.

Bottom line

Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires represents a confident pivot for a franchise that knows its audience well. Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly remain compelling anchors, but the film belongs to its newcomers. Freya Skye and Malachi Barton don’t just fill slots—they redefine what the franchise’s monster mythology can be. For viewers who have followed the series from the start, there’s a genuine curiosity about whether Nova and Victor will outlast their predecessors. The early viewership numbers suggest the audience is willing to follow wherever the franchise takes them next.

Related reading: Cast of Knives Out: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans & Full List · Cast of The Fall Guy: 2024 Film & Original TV Stars

Milo Manheim reprises Zed with Meg Donnelly as Addison, while Freya Skye joins as Nova Bright, as explored in detailed cast breakdown ahead of the Disney+ premiere.

Frequently asked questions