One of the best movies of all time is getting an Irish remake

EXCLUSIVE: 'It'll be full of Irish actors,' the remake's director told JOE.

The "reimagining" of the '60s horror classic is being helmed by director David Merriman (Rock Against Homelessness) and will star John Connors (Cardboard Gangsters).

Merriman told JOE about the project during an interview to promote his new film Re-Creation, which he made alongside Jim Sheridan and will land in Irish cinemas on 3 October.

For more details about Re-Creation, click right here.

Directed by George A. Romero and released in 1968, the original Night of the Living Dead is a black-and-white indie horror. It follows a ragtag group of Pennsylvanians who barricade themselves in an old farmhouse to remain safe from a horde of killer zombies that are ravaging the United States.

Night of the Living Dead has been highly praised for its social commentary and for creating the more modern, still dominant concept of a flesh-eating zombie. It is widely considered one of the greatest films of all time.

The horror has also spawned numerous sequels and spin-offs, as well as an official remake in 1990.

When speaking to Merriman and Sheridan about Re-Creation, JOE asked them about their upcoming projects.

It was then that Merriman responded:

"I'm actually doing a movie next year starring John Connors. It's a reimagining of Night of the Living Dead, the George Romero movie.

"It's a reimagining of it. It's not sticking strictly to what they did, but it's around that.

"I've always been obsessed with horror films, and I love what I've learned to do with Jim, which is character-based emotional stories.

"I wonder how interesting something set in a post-apocalyptic world with real characters [would be], and actually [the original] movie is a great character piece about racism.

"All great horror movies have themes, have great performances and great characters. So I'm interested in doing something like that and seeing what happens."

When JOE then asked Merriman if his remake of Night of the Living Dead would be set in Ireland, he explained: "Actually, it's going to be set in a nether world.

"So part of it will be shot in America, and most of it will be shot here, but we're not going to place it in any particular country.

"Most of it will be shot here, but we're going to use some of the landscapes in America. There's a great deal of abandoned cities and towns and Air Force bases and all this kind of stuff that we plan on shooting on in America and using that to heighten the production value. So, you can't say that's Ireland.

"We're just going to place it like Night of the Living Dead in a place, but it'll be full of Irish actors, obviously."

Re-Creation will be released exclusively in Omniplex cinemas from 3 October. Screenings will be followed by West Cork Murder: 2025 Case Analysis, a 30-minute filmed Q&A featuring Merriman and Sheridan, hosted by Jennifer Forde from the West Cork podcast.