The Dead will rise in 2025…twice.

Last week, WithAnO Productions released a teaser trailer for Return of the Living Dead, a sequel to the Dan O’Bannon original, released in 1985. That movie launched a new franchise that includes five films, not counting the one from WithAnO.

But Monday brought the news that another company, Living Dead Media, who purportedly are the current copyright owners of the franchise, will produce a sequel titled Trash’s Revenge, starring Linnea Quigley, who played Trash in RotLD in ’85.

ROLTD Originals LLC, which may be behind the WithAnO production, is currently facing a lawsuit brought by Living Dead Media to establish who owns the rights to the franchise. That suit was filed in August of this year in Los Angeles. Beverly Hartley, who starred with Quigley in the original under the name Beverly Randolph, formed ROLTD Originals, and according to reps from Living Dead Media, she has no right to the IP based on her performance in the film.

While that case is being heard, both films seem to be a go. In fact, Quigley announced that other original cast members will join her in Trash’s Revenge, including (possibly) Beverly Randolph/Hartley. Billed as “part of The Return of the Living Dead Universe,” Trash’s Revenge is said to be “a tribute to the passionate fans who have kept the spirit of ROTLD alive.”

Trash’s Revenge will get it’s production funds from a crowd-funding campaign set to launch on January 20th, 2025.

Meanwhile, Return of the Living Dead has a planned Christmas 2025 release, and the teaser trailer includes a look at Tarman, the main antagonist in 1985’s The Return of the Living Dead. The sequel’s official description is thus: “Taking place 18 months after the events at the UNEEDA Warehouse in Louisville, KY, a new Trioxin 2-4-5 leak puts a small Pennsylvania town on the brink of a zombie outbreak during Christmas, 1985.” Season’s screamings!

Trash’s Revenge has no planned release date yet, and the outcome of the copyright case could affect one or both movies.