Marvel Studios is expanding its animated Marvel Zombies universe, announcing three new Disney+ specials that will arrive annually beginning in 2027. The announcement establishes a three-year release schedule for the franchise, with each installment exploring a different corner of Marvel’s zombie-infested universe.
The news was revealed during New York Comic Con on October 8, where Marvel Television chief Brad Winderbaum confirmed that Marvel Animation is developing three new projects titled Marvel Zombies: The Winter Soldier, Marvel Zombies: The Fist of Khonshu, and Marvel Zombies: The Last Guardian.
Rather than producing a traditional second season of Marvel Zombies, Marvel is adopting an annual Halloween release strategy, potentially turning the animated franchise into a recurring seasonal attraction for Disney+ subscribers.
All three specials are scheduled to debut around Halloween in their respective release years.
Marvel Zombies Will Explore Three Different Characters
The first installment, Marvel Zombies: The Winter Soldier, is scheduled for Halloween 2027.
The special will focus on Bucky Barnes, the former HYDRA operative better known as the Winter Soldier. The character previously appeared in Marvel’s animated zombie universe, and the upcoming installment is expected to explore his story following his encounter with Wanda Maximoff.
The second special, Marvel Zombies: The Fist of Khonshu, will follow in Halloween 2028.
This installment promises to revisit the Moon Knight mythology established within the animated universe. However, audiences should not necessarily expect Oscar Isaac’s Marc Spector to take center stage.
The original Marvel Zombies series featured an unusual interpretation of Moon Knight, with Blade assuming the mantle of Khonshu’s champion. The circumstances surrounding that character’s fate leave Marvel with several possibilities for the upcoming special.
Marvel has not revealed which character will serve as the Fist of Khonshu.
Thanos in Marvel Zombies – Disney+
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The third and final announced installment, Marvel Zombies: The Last Guardian, is scheduled for Halloween 2029.
Its title suggests a possible connection to the Guardians of the Galaxy, although Marvel has not confirmed which character the story will follow.
Winderbaum reportedly teased that the identity of the Last Guardian would be particularly exciting, but declined to provide additional details.
Bryan Andrews, who directed the original Marvel Zombies series, is expected to return for all three specials.
Disney+ Gets Three Years of Marvel Zombies Programming
The original Marvel Zombies premiered on Disney+ in September 2025 as a four-episode animated miniseries.
Developed as an expansion of the zombie storyline introduced in Marvel’s What If…? anthology series, the production explored an alternate Marvel Cinematic Universe where a zombie outbreak had devastated civilization and transformed numerous familiar superheroes into dangerous threats.
The series also marked an important milestone for Marvel Animation as its first TV-MA animated television production.
Wanda in Marvel Zombies – Disney+
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Each of the newly announced specials will consist of two parts, potentially adding six installments to the franchise over the next three years. That approach represents a departure from the traditional streaming television model.
Instead of releasing another complete season, Marvel can focus on individual characters and smaller stories while maintaining an annual presence on Disney+.
The Halloween scheduling also gives the franchise a natural seasonal identity, potentially allowing Disney to promote Marvel Zombies alongside its other Halloween programming.
Marvel Continues Investing in Animation
The announcement also demonstrates Marvel Studios‘ continued investment in animated productions as the company adjusts its broader television strategy.
While live-action Marvel projects typically require substantial budgets and lengthy production schedules, animation provides opportunities to explore alternate universes and unconventional character combinations without the same practical limitations.
Marvel Zombies – Disney+
However, the three-year release plan is still a significant commitment, particularly as Marvel continues evaluating the performance of its Disney+ programming.
The company has not announced specific premiere dates, episode runtimes, or complete voice casts for the new specials.
For now, Marvel Zombies fans can look forward to the franchise returning in Halloween 2027, followed by additional installments in 2028 and 2029.
Whether the annual special format becomes a successful long-term strategy for Marvel Animation remains to be seen, but Disney+ subscribers can expect the zombie apocalypse to continue for several more years.
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