MILO MANHEIM IS PASSING THE TORCH TO A NEW GENERATION OF ACTORS. NOT INDEFINITELY – HE’S ONLY 24 YEARS OLD – BUT IN THE DISNEY MOVIE MUSICAL FRANCHISE ZOMBIES, WHICH GAVE HIM HIS BIG ON-SCREEN BREAK BACK IN 2018. IN THE LATEST INSTALMENT, ZOMBIES 4, HE NOT ONLY REPRISES HIS ROLE AS ZED BUT ALSO ACTS AS AN EXECUTIVE PRODUCER ON THE FILM, WHICH SEES A SUMMER ROAD TRIP TAKE AN UNEXPECTED DETOUR, LANDING HIM AND SOME YOUNGER NEW CAST FACES IN THE MIDDLE OF YET ANOTHER MONSTER RIVALRY: DAYWALKERS VS. VAMPIRES. HERE, WE CATCH UP WITH THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE TO DISCUSS MAKING CREATIVE CALLS ON SET, HIS OFF-BROADWAY STINT IN LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS AND SHAKING HIS ASS TO ANYTHING WEIRD ON THE DANCEFLOOR.

Top & pants **Prada**, bracelets, ring & necklace **David Yurman**, watch **Omega**

What’s the energy and vibe that Zed brings to this next instalment of Zombies? What can we look forward to that we haven’t seen before in him, and what made you want to reprise the role?

I think Zed is really stepping into the leadership position in this movie, more so than in the previous ones. He and Addison are tight now, and they’ve always been super in love throughout the whole franchise, but now they are really a team. They just want to step up and guide the new monsters. I have so much fun playing Zed, and I love spreading the message of this franchise, and hopefully, we’ll continue to do so. When I’m back with the cast and crew that I know and I love, it really feels like coming back home, and I’ve been with Zombies for almost a decade now. It brings me warmth and joy, like it does the rest of the world. This one also felt like the newest of the journeys, too – we shot in a new location, I had a new role as producer, and there was a lot of time between the third and fourth films, so I also really grew as a person.

Sweater, jacket, shirt & pants **Miu Miu**

Yes, let’s discuss wearing your executive producer hat on this movie. How did you bring that familiar energy to the set?

Meg and I hold this franchise very close to our hearts, and as producers, we just wanted to set the tone… that we’re gonna have fun! I think that helped everybody, including the dancers, because I know a lot of them were nervous, and they’re a big part of the movie. I think setting a good vibe on set is such a big part of the job. It may sound silly, but it’s important because it makes everybody do their best work.

Shirt & pants **Fendi**, bracelets, ring & necklace **David Yurman**, watch **Omega**

How did you establish chemistry with the newbie cast members before arriving on set in New Zealand to shoot?

Luckily, Meg and I were involved in the audition process with Malachi and Freya. So, we were spending time with them, even before they got the roles and really trying to guide them since the beginning and help them do their best in the audition room, which we know can be nerve-wracking. With the others – Sway, MK and Julian – they all just brought it. I mean, they clearly were the right people for the roles. It just seems to work well, and all the new cast are the best parts of their characters in real life, which I love. So, it all kind of worked out.

Shirt **Lacoste**, jacket & pants **Polo Ralph Lauren**

Having been involved in those casting decisions, the wardrobe and some of the dance numbers too, it must be a confidence builder to know your voice and input are valued in bringing existing and new audiences to this next instalment?

It is one of the most gratifying things in my life to be a producer on this project. I love this franchise so much, and to be able to voice all the creative things I’ve wanted to do since the beginning and for them to be heard and done alongside Meg is a dream come true. I got into this industry because I like to be creative, I like to imagine, and I like to get people excited. I’m close enough to remembering how I felt watching Disney Channel Original Movies growing up and trying to recreate some of that magic in this one.

Shirt **Albie**, jeans **Isabel Marant**, bracelets, ring & necklace **David Yurman**

Did you find it challenging at times to be both in front of the camera and part of the decision-making behind the scenes, too?

The only time it’s challenging is when you’re not able to be in two different places at once. Sometimes, it’s just funny – right after we cut a scene, we have to walk 100 feet to say one thing or watch a playback. But honestly, it doesn’t feel like I had two positions, actor and producer. It just felt like I was a person on this set who loves to make movies and has creative say. I think the biggest part of that is being able to voice what other people have to say as well. I really valued everybody’s opinion, including day players, our dancers who just came in for a day. If they’re getting really into it and suggest something, why not entertain that idea and see if it works out…

…and perhaps the idea of casting your dog Lou in any scenes… maybe a mini four-legged vampire… I mean, come on, you’re an executive producer now!

Um, oh my god. I always think about putting Louie, my dog, in everything else, but not Zombies. Maybe it’s because I started Zombies before I had him. I’m always trying to make him a dead ghost dog on School Spirits, or maybe he’ll be in Thanksgiving 2. Zombies’ universe is one I guess Louie will just have to watch with me at home!

Ok, so no doggie vampires, but did it feel like a natural progression to enter vamps into the mix now?

It did. It’s funny because the world of Zombies is so weird and unique that anything really makes sense. I love that we’ve created a universe where we can add as many new species and characters as we can come up with and get to be super creative as to what those monsters are. I’m. We created the Daywalkers, that’s not a “real” thing, so I’m really looking forward to how people react to them and the vampires. Hopefully, looking forward to other creatures in new films too.

Left Full look **Miu Miu**
Right Full look **Prada**

Monsters aside, there are some high-energy dance numbers in this movie as well – was rehearsal as intense this time round?

Well, I will say it lightened the load having all the new kids because they’re now carrying half of the songs in the movie! So, Meg and I didn’t have to do as much dancing, but the dancing we did do was as intense as the other movies. If not more, especially the opening number. That’s my favourite part about making these movies, that you get in really great shape whether you like it or not!

Going forward, if there is a Zombies 5, would you like to be behind the scenes more? And how do you think the universe could be expanded, or what direction would you like it to go in?

If there’s a Zombies 5, I will absolutely be a part of it behind the camera. Whatever the universe brings its way, it will be the right thing. Maybe even Zed comes back for a cameo. We’ll have to see. Hopefully, we keep going because it’s such a joy maker, and right now, I’m just watching the world enjoy Zombies 4 and what resonates with people.

Aside from Zombies, you’ve also been in musical theatre, with off-Broadway shows like Little Shop of Horrors. Would you like to do more theatre? Also, having now done stage and screen, is there one you prefer, or do they both resonate with your passion for performance?

It’s interesting, ever since I stopped theatre and I’ve been doing film, all I’ve wanted to do is get back to the stage because I missed it so much. Now that I’m back on the stage, it’s as fulfilling as I expected it to be, having been gone for so long. But I also realise that I’ve really grown to love film. I hope to be able to go back and forth between the two for the rest of my life. I’m doing Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl in August. It will be a cool moment in my life because I grew up in LA, and the Bowl is one of my favourite venues to go and experience theatre or music, or just be outside with friends in LA. So, to be able to stand on that stage alongside such incredible performers, it’s a surreal life moment.

Any dream directors you would love to work with? Or is it the genre aspect that speaks specifically to you?

I really like weird stuff, really grounded, quirky films. So, I’m always looking to do the weirdest option out there, and I’m gonna keep that open-ended. When it comes to directors, I love Greta Gerwig’s rawness when she’s shooting things. It always feels so slice of life and so real and so romanticised and lovely. On the flipside, working with Christopher Nolan would be cool, in some crazy, mind-bending film. Or someone who’s known for their beautiful visuals, like Wes Anderson. His cinematography would be cool to learn. The logistics of how cameras can operate. We’ll see.

So, Milo, you dance, you sing…. and appear in Sabrina Carpenter’s music vids (yes, we spied you)…. what are we shaking our asses to when we go clubbing together? And what’s our karaoke duet at the end of the night?

Such a great question. To be honest with you, I’ll shake my ass to anything that comes on in the club. Right now, any excuse to shake your ass in the club works for me. So, you could be playing Bach or Minuet in D minor, and I would still be shaking my ass in the club! My new favourite karaoke duet at the end of the night is Suddenly Seymour, which I sang recently with my dear friend Isabella Merced in Miami – we slayed the house down. Other than that, if we’re having a sentimental night, maybe some Good Riddance by Green Day!

Interview by Kate Lawson

Photography by Dorien J

Fashion by Caro Jin Park

Grooming by Jenny Sauce

EIC Michael Marson

Casting by Imagemachine cs

Stylist’s assistant by Jina Chung

Photographer’s assistant by Connor Tanner