On the 13th of December 2024, the official trailer of an upcoming film titled A44, featuring vegans in a zombie world, was unveiled. The movie’s creator, Chris Cooney, also known as The Vegan Zombie (TVZ), is the producer of a YouTube cooking show of the same name set in the zombie apocalypse. The movie is expected to premiere in 2025.
Cooney, who wrote, produced, and directed the movie, stars alongside Dr Michael Greger, Jane Velez-Mitchell, and other members of a small cast. Cooney launched a Kickstarter for the project in 2018, which raised over $85,000.
Dr Greger, who plays a college professor in the movie, is an American physician, author, and advocate for a plant-based whole foods diet. In 2011, he founded the website NutritionFacts.org. Jane Velez-Mitchell is an American author, journalist, and the founder of UnchainedTV, a nonprofit streaming network that focuses on veganism and animal rights.
Cooney said on his website, “A44 is a tale of compassion, told through the unexpected lens of a zombie narrative. It’s the first feature film of its kind — a pro-vegan story that isn’t a documentary. By infusing elements of comedy and not taking ourselves too seriously, we’ve created a film that invites viewers to laugh, reflect, and perhaps see the world a bit differently. The friendship between the lead character and his loyal German Shepherd is central to the story. My hope is that audiences will connect with this bond and consider extending that sense of empathy to all animals. If we can inspire even a small shift in perspective, then our efforts will have been worthwhile.”
In 2013, Cooney also published a graphic novel cookbook titled The Vegan Zombie: Cook & Survive with illustrations and recipes.
