Dead Rising's Live Action Revival Kicks Off at IGN Live

IGN Live was given an exclusive first look at the opening five minutes of SYFY's upcoming series Revival, and we also sat down with the show's co-creator and showrunner, Aaron B. Koontz. He shared why this series—which explores the dead returning to life in unexpected ways—is absolutely worth watching.

Revival premieres on SYFY on June 12, adapted from the Harvey Award-nominated comic by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton that published 47 issues from 2012 to 2017. In our exclusive preview below, viewers are brought into the story on “Revival Day,” the moment the deceased rise again. However, they’re not zombies—the undead behave exactly as they did in life.

These opening minutes closely mirror the comic's beginning, and Koontz explained why this was a smart move.

“It’s one of the first scenes in the comic, and it completely drew us in,” Koontz said. “The scene was fascinating, and we had no idea what would come next. Without revealing spoilers, I can say this moment is more than it seems. After watching future episodes, you'll realize these first few minutes held far more significance than you first thought.”

A key moment in the clip shows one of the undead being cremated at Randy’s Crematorium in Wausau, Wisconsin. The individual breaks free and races away, engulfed in flames—all achieved practically, without CGI.

“I wanted to push ourselves,” Koontz noted. “I wanted real fire, no digital effects. We were filming in a small town with limited emergency services, and I felt terrible having so much medical staff stationed on set. I remember thinking, ‘I hope nothing goes wrong in town tonight—all the help is here!’”

We also meet Randy himself, portrayed by Graeme Barrett, known for Divorced Dads and Court of Chaos. Koontz discovered him on Instagram and felt he “perfectly captured the contrast of humor against more serious themes.”

“One of my favorite parts of the script,” Koontz added, “was establishing a connection from the supporting characters to our leads. Having Randy say ‘It’s not my fault’ mirrors the first line spoken by Wayne Cypress. Right away, you’re thrown into the dynamic between Wayne and Dana—and that family dynamic is essential, because the Cypress family lies at the heart of the series.”

Overall, Revival isn't intended as purely grim horror. It blends tense scares, emotional drama, and plenty of lighthearted moments. Koontz compared it to Mare of Easttown meets Fargo—featuring eccentric characters, horror-thriller elements, and a fresh spin on zombie tropes that sets it apart.

Revival launches on SYFY on June 12, followed by a Peacock release the next week. The cast includes Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp), Romy Weltman (Backstage), David James Elliott (JAG), Andy McQueen (Mrs. Davis), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Phil Brooks (aka CM Punk, from Mayans M.C.), Gia Sandhu (A Simple Favor), Katharine King So (The Recruit), Maia Jae (In the Dark), Nathan Dales (Letterkenny), Mark Little (Doomlands), Glen Gould (Tulsa King), Lara Jean Chorostecki (Nightmare Alley), and Conrad Coates (Fargo).

The series is based on the Harvey-nominated comic of the same name by writer Tim Seeley and artist Mike Norton, originally published by Image Comics across 47 issues from 2012 to 2017.

For more, catch our exclusive trailer reveal for Revival and all the latest from IGN Live.