By Kathia Woods | Special to The OBSERVER
The Zombies franchise is a powerful force in youthful entertainment, consistently achieving impressive results among children and families. As one of the most popular Disney Channel Original Movie series on Disney+, the first three films have garnered nearly a quarter billion streaming hours. In this latest installment, titled “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires”, Zed and Addison embark on a new adventure when their summer road trip takes an unexpected turn, leading them into a rivalry between Daywalkers and Vampires.
Chandler Kinney portrays Willa Lykensen, the leader of the Werewolf Pack. The dynamic actress and Sacramento native shared insights on how her character consistently paves the way by demonstrating compassion and fairness in her leadership.
When they encounter the Daywalkers and Vampires, Willa recognizes parallels between their struggles and the challenges she and her friends faced in the previous films.
“We now meet these two brand-new monster factions, the Daywalkers and the Vampires. They are at odds with each other. And, you know, I think it’s a situation that feels familiar to the OG crew. We’ve witnessed discord and the effort to learn how to embrace individualism while joining together to be stronger. What I appreciate about this film is that, thematically, it continues to explore many of the lessons we’ve encountered and evolved through previous films. You truly see our OG crew apply what they’ve learned in action, stepping into roles as camp counselors and mentors to guide the younger generation toward eventually uniting to combat a challenge that I cannot disclose due to spoilers. Ultimately, I believe it is essential to set aside differences and collaborate for greater strength,” she states.
While Kinney plays a werewolf, she is able to infuse elements of her identity into the role, enhancing visibility.
“That representation is so important to me because, growing up, I wanted to see someone who looked like me in spaces that often lacked such representation. I felt a deep connection to those characters, and now I want to be that person for someone else — a young kid or girl — who is looking to see her curls on screen, her skin tone glistening in the light, feeling beautiful and powerful while also embracing her femininity.” Kinney explains.
Audiences can watch Kinney in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires when the film comes to Disney Channel July 10th and the following day on Disney +.