New zombie show ‘Z Nation’ filming in Washington state

Producers of the Syfy Network series “Z Nation” plan to shoot 13 episodes of the zombie television series in Spokane, and they need 1,300 undead to help depict the America post-zombie apocalypse.

Producer Rich Cowan, of the production company “North by Northwest,” based in Spokane, says the series is unique compared with all of the other zombie movies and shows out there.

“It’s really about hope and perseverance. It takes place four years after the zombie apocalypse,” says Cowan. “It’s a very interesting show. It has very great strong characters, but it is about survival, it’s about hope and it’s about saving humanity, which I think is a very noble goal.”

They chose to film in Spokane, Cowan says, because of the diversity of its surroundings.

“We’re shooting the entire series in Spokane,” says Cowan. “What’s great about Spokane is in a commutable distance of Spokane we have a desert, we have mountains, we have lakes, we have beautiful Palouse, so we can depict various areas of the country quite easily.”

Cowan has 50 feature films under his belt and is amazed at the level of excitement from people wanting to be part of ‘Z Nation.

“I haven’t had so many people approach me, all day long. ‘I want to be in this series. I want to be a zombie. I want to act in it.’ It’s such a phenomenon, the whole zombie thing.”

Big Fish NW Talent is casting extras for the show. In its synopsis, the show is described as being about transporting a survivor of the zombie plague from California to a lab in New York while dodging 3,000 miles of ‘walkers’ and post-apocalyptic America.

“If they can get him to this lab across the country there would be an excellent chance of developing a vaccine to save humanity,” says Cowan.

It’s not clear yet who will star in the show as primary casting hasn’t been announced, but the producers say a handful of lead roles could be filled by local talent.

The production teams involved are responsible for
“Sharknado,” “Web Therapy,” “Eureka,” and “Stephen King’s The Dead Zone.”

“Z Nation” is expected to premiere this fall.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.