10 Behind-The-Scenes Facts About Zombieland 2: Double Tap

Zombieland: Double Tap was released in theaters almost exactly one year ago today. The big-budget ten-year sequel directed by Ruben Fleischer reunites Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone), and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) as they continue to combat a harrowing zombie apocalypse across the continental United States.

Released on October 18, 2019, Zombieland: Double Tap proved to be a major financial success, turning an estimated $42 million budget into an estimated international gross of $122 million. Critically speaking, the film holds a 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating, 6.7/10 IMDB mark, and a 55/100 Metascore. For more on the film’s production history, scroll below.

10 TV Pilot

While director Ruben Fleischer, writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and star Woody Harrelson expressed desires to make a sequel early on (via Yahoo), too many other projects pulled their attention away. Instead, a TV adaptation was created in 2013. When the TV series failed, Double Tap was conceived.

Written by Reese and Wernick, the 28-minute pilot for the Zombieland series was directed by Eli Craig and debuted on Lovefilm and Amazon Video in April of 2013. The main characters remained the same, with Kyle Ward playing Tallahassee, Tyler Ross as Columbus, Maiara Walsh as Wichita, and Izabela Vidovic as Little Rock.

9 Elvis Story & Song

During the hotel barroom scene, Tallahassee explains to Nevada (Rosario Dawson) the time he impressed the cutest girl in school with his Elvis Presley impersonation. According to Harrelson on The Late Late Show With James Corden, this is a true story about he broke into the film business as an actor.

Tallahassee explains that a girl named Robin Rogers gave him a kiss after crooning like The King. On the talk show, Harrelson explains that a real girl named l Robin Rogers approached him and complimented his acting in school, encouraging him to pursue a career in Hollywood. Also, Harrelson performs the rendition of Elvis’ “Burning Love” during the credits.

8 Vomit Approval

According to Makeup and FX artist Tony Gardner via stanwinstonschool.com, the four main actors had script approval prior to filming. In addition, Woody Harrelson had vomit approval.

For the scene in which Madison (Zoey Deutch) is required to vomit, Harrelson interjected and demanded thicker, chunkier emesis. Tony Gardner and his Alterian FX company gladly complied, mixing vanilla pudding, honey, almond milk, and granola chunks in a blender to achieve the proper consistency Harrelson was looking for.

7 Metallica Track

Zombieland: Double Tap opens with Metallica’s famous track “Master of Puppets,” which aptly mirrors the opening of Zombieland, in which Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” plays. Originally, the second song was supposed to come first.

Fleischer has stated that he wanted to begin Zombieland with “Master of Puppets” but could not afford the rights to use the song in 2009. He vowed to obtain the rights for the intended song if a sequel was ever green-lit, and kept his promise by beginning the Zombieland 2 in the way he intended to begin the original.

6 Zombie Designs & Makeup

When it came time to design the zombie aesthetic in the film, Tony Garnder and Alterian drew from real-life medical conditions, skin problems, bedsores, hoof-and-mouth disease, etc. to create the utmost authenticity. The design team deliberately opted for a more dried-up zombie as opposed to the glistening wet ghouls from the original.

Moreover, the zombies in the film are largely comprised of silicone rather than the typical latex material used in most zombie productions. According to Garnder, the material made it easier to achieve a depth of skin and create an ill, translucent facade.

5 Blood & FX

According to Tony Garnder in the same audio interview cited above, the bloody gore makeup and special FX  in the film were achieved through various means depending on the specific scene.

For the gooey blood, a mixture of chocolate sauce, coffee, and Karo syrup was mixed at different levels to create the proper texture and viscosity. The slimy gore was applied in layers, with the darker substance dripping from the nose, ears, and mouth. The lighter blood was applied around the eyes, while the zombie costumes were sprayed with a sticky blood substance.

4 Flagstaff & Albuquerque

Zombieland: Double Tap features several new characters, including Tallahassee and Columbus’ comedic doppelgangers, Flagstaff (Thomas Middleditch), and Albuquerque (Luke Wilson). Prior to casting, two other high-profile actors were up for the roles.

Ryan Reynolds was heavily considered for the role of Albuquerque but was forced to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts. According to Den of Geek, Michael Cera was offered the role of Flagstaff but he declined. Also, Flagstaff and Albuquerque were the names of Tallahassee and Columbus in the original draft of the first Zombieland film.

3 RV Scene

Zombieland: Double Tap features a scene in which Colombus stands atop the RV and serves as a lookout for an impending zombie incursion, warning Tallahassee and Witchita of where to steer clear.

The scene was taken from the final battle in the original Zombieland movie and recycled in the sequel. The only difference is, in the original, it was Columbus and Tallahassee who stood on the RV and directed zombie traffic while parked at a condemned gas station. Read the original screenplay here.

2 Video Games

Zombieland: Double Tap inspired at least two video games that were released in conjunction with the film in October 2019. One was a mobile game called Zombieland: Double Tapper, featuring the main characters from the film.

The film also led to the creation of the first-person shooter game Zombieland: Double Tap – Road Trip, released on October 15, 2019, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and Nintendo Switch consoles. The game was developed by High Voltage Software and published by Maximum Games and GameMill Entertainment.

1 Hollywood Horror Nights

In addition to inspiring multiple video games, Zombieland: Double Tap was also honored at Universal Studios Hollywood Horror Nights Halloween attraction in Orlando, Florida in the fall of 2019.

The attraction was featured in one of five scare-zones and featured various props and characters from the film. The scare-zone was located in the New York portion of the theme park. The attraction came with warning signs on how to survive a zombie apocalypse, clown zombies, corpse-ridden porta-potties, vehicles from the film, etc.