Marvel Zombies Unleashes First Trailer, Reveals Mahershala Ali’s Blade MCU Debut

Disney+ and Marvel Studios dropped the highly anticipated first trailer for “Marvel Zombies” today, showcasing the upcoming animated horror series that transforms beloved MCU heroes into flesh-eating undead creatures. The four-episode miniseries, premiering September 24, 2025, marks a significant milestone as Marvel Studios Animation’s first TV-MA rated production.

Horror Meets Heroism in New Animated Series

The newly released trailer reveals a dystopian alternate timeline where Earth’s mightiest heroes have fallen victim to a zombie plague, forcing a desperate group of survivors to battle against their former protectors. The series continues the storyline from the “What If… Zombies?!” episode that aired in 2021, picking up where the original episode left viewers with a cliffhanger featuring zombie Thanos wielding a nearly complete Infinity Gauntlet.

“After the Avengers are overtaken by a zombie plague, a desperate group of survivors discover the key to bringing an end to the super-powered undead, racing across a dystopian landscape and risking life and limb to save their world,” reads the official synopsis.

The trailer showcases zombified versions of iconic characters including Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye, and Okoye, while survivors like Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), Shang-Chi (Simu Liu), and Red Guardian (David Harbour) lead the fight against their undead former allies.

Mahershala Ali’s Blade Makes MCU Animation Debut

Perhaps the most significant revelation in today’s trailer is the first appearance of Mahershala Ali’s Blade in any MCU media. The vampire hunter, who was announced to join the MCU back in 2019 but has faced numerous production delays for his solo film, finally makes his debut in animated form. The trailer shows Blade taking on what appears to be a zombified Ghost, demonstrating his expertise in combating supernatural threats.

While it remains unclear whether Ali provides the voice for this animated version, the inclusion represents a major milestone for the character’s long-awaited MCU integration.

Star-Studded Voice Cast Returns

The series features an impressive ensemble cast reprising their MCU roles, including Elizabeth Olsen as Scarlet Witch, Paul Rudd as Ant-Man, Florence Pugh as Yelena Belova, David Harbour as Red Guardian, Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie, Simu Liu as Shang-Chi, Awkwafina as Katy, Hailee Steinfeld as Kate Bishop, Wyatt Russell as John Walker/U.S. Agent, Randall Park as Jimmy Woo, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel, and Dominique Thorne as Ironheart.

Production and Release Details

Created by Zeb Wells and directed by Bryan Andrews (who also serves as showrunner), “Marvel Zombies” was originally conceived as a feature film before being restructured into a four-episode “mini-movie event”. The series maintains the same cel-shaded animation style as “What If…?” with animation provided by Stellar Creative Lab.

The TV-MA rating allows the series to embrace the full horror potential of its zombie premise, featuring gore and violence typically absent from Marvel’s family-friendly content. Executive producers include Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Brad Winderbaum, Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt, Bryan Andrews, and Zeb Wells.

Originally scheduled for an October 2025 release to coincide with Halloween season, the series was moved up to September 24, giving fans an earlier taste of Marvel’s undead universe. The series will be part of Phase Six of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The release of today’s trailer has generated significant buzz across social media platforms, with fans praising both the horror elements and the long-awaited introduction of Blade to the MCU.