Mike Fleming

379LIn the latest example of Hollywood alchemy that mixes real historical figures with flesh-eating zombies, Double Feature partners Michael Shamberg and Stacey Sher have optioned Paul Is Undead, an Alan Goldsher novel that re-imagines the history of The Beatles–with John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr re-cast as zombies.

Written as oral history, the book details how Lennon, a zombie guitarist in Liverpool, kills and reanimates McCartney, then does the same with Harrison and Starr. They create hits and bloody mayhem across the world, pursued by England’s greatest zombie hunter, Mick Jagger. They also engage in a battle with Eighth Level Ninja Lord Yoko Ono, and snack on the brains of swooning fans.0

“I am a huge Beatle’s fan like the rest of the world and Alan’s mash up, which really showcases his love of music history and his appreciation of the zombie world, is a fun, funny read,” said Sher, who with Shamberg have teamed on more serious films ranging from Pulp Fiction to Get Shorty, Erin Brockovich and the upcoming Steven Soderbergh-directed Contagion, a film that stars Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law and Kate Winslet. “The illustrations are fantastic, and how can you not love a book where Jesus agrees with Zombie John Lennon, that the Beatles are in fact bigger than him. We will be going out to studios, financiers, and talent soon.”

beatles-museum-liverpoolWhile Beatles purists might be tempted to belt out a chorus of blasphemy, zombies are hot. Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov are working together on an adaptation of the Seth Grahame-Smith novel Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and Lionsgate and Natalie Portman are adapting Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, a film David O. Russell is circling as director.

I’m trying to think of a clever line for the one-sheet, but am drawing a blank on Beatles song titles. Except one: Help.