This article appears in the new issue of DEN OF GEEK magazine.
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Its a biological weapon that has changed their biology.
But then Covid hit, and that changed everything.
Everybodys got the experience of it.
It gave a much more rounded view to all the characters having been through Covid.
But, as Wheatley saysnot zombies, not dead.
In fact, these retirees are energized and ignited by the infection.
They are hungry for flesh, but they are also hungry for freedom, empowerment, and independence.
I think they got to do stuff that they wouldnt normally do on British telly.
It was a stretch of the legs for them to get into all this, says Wheatley.
Without spoilers, this involves an orgy and plenty of ultra-violence.
Then, at the other end of the age spectrum, theres the young cast.
We got to look under the hood of the next generation of British performers.
I think Ill be dipping back into Gen Z for casting for quite some time, says Wheatley.
Being able to do a longform horror piece on Channel 4thats a big canvas, he says.
I wanted to show that kind of development, how theyre dealing with the world.
And could there even be scope for a second season?
Its all in the hands of the reviews and the audience, says Wheatley.
I see it as changing genre each season.
The zombieness of it, or whatever that is, will go away, and something else will happen.
But well be following these characters as they grow up.
Only time will tell.
Generation Z premieres on Channel 4 in October.
