Tomas Matos to Star in Tina Romero’s Horror Comedy “Queens of the Dead”

Tomas Matos will be royally horrified

The 26-year-old Latinx artist and social justice advocate will star in Queens of the Dead, a new horror comedy directed by Tina Romero, the daughter of legendary director George A. Romero.

Tomas MatosMatos will star alongside Katy O’BrianMargaret ChoBrigette Lundy-Paine, Cheyenne Jackson, Nina West, Jaquel Spivey, Quincy Dunn-Baker, Becca Blackwell, Shaunette Renée Wilson, Dominique Jackson, Riki Lindhome and Eve Lindley in the film.

Co-written by Erin Judge and Tina Romero, the film pays tribute to the zombies from the elder Romero’s classic zombie films with a fresh, contemporary and queer twist, promising to offer a genre-smashing, glam-gore thrill ride through the zombie apocalypse.

From Vanishing Angle, the film follows an eclectic group of drag queens, club kids, and frenemies who must put aside their personal dramas and use their unique skills to combat the brain-thirsty undead when a zombie apocalypse breaks out during their drag show in Brooklyn.

George A. Romero, often referred to as the “Godfather of Zombies,” revolutionized the horror genre with his groundbreaking films Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, with his work influencing countless filmmakers and becoming a cornerstone of modern horror.

Following George’s 2017 passing, Tina Romero looks to carry the torch with a talent-rich film loaded with practical effects, jump scares, laughs, and lumbering zombies amassing on the streets of Brooklyn. Given its focus on the historically disenfranchised LGBTQ+ population, the film should fit in naturally with George A. Romero’s oeuvre, which used a zombie apocalypse to examine social injustice, among many other themes.

“This is the cast of my wildest dreams. In a movie about survival, you gotta love and root for the survival crew,” said Romero in a statement about the project. “Every single person in this ensemble brings such a special and specific flavor -both on and off screen. The result is truly a magic sauce.”

Matos’ previous credits include Fire Island and Fantasmas.

LD Entertainment & Variance Films to Release Rene Rosado-Starrer “National Anthem” In Theaters This Summer

Rene Rosado’s latest project is heading to a theater near you.

LD Entertainment will partner with Variance Films on the theatrical release of National Anthem, the queer ranching drama starring the 41-year-old Puerto Rican actor.

Rene RosadoThe feature directorial debut of Luke Gilford, which debuted at last year’s SXSW, also stars Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Mason Alexander Park and Robyn Lively.

National Anthem will be released in the U.S. on July 12.

Immersed in the world of a rural queer ranching community, and set against the exuberant, real-life International Gay Rodeo AssociationNational Anthem is billed as a celebration of first love and chosen family. The protagonist of the film is Dylan (Plummer), a 21-year-old working in construction in New Mexico who joins a community of queer rodeo performers in search of their own version of the American dream.

Said Variance’s Dylan Marchetti and Kristen Osborne: “Variance’s mission is to help people find joy at the movie theater, and Luke’s incredible vision is a perfect fit. National Anthem is a celebration of so many things that TRULY make America great- love, our beautiful open spaces (shot in glorious 35mm, no less), and finding your family no matter where you may live- because no matter where you live, your family is out there waiting for you. We can’t wait for audiences to glam up and find theirs at theaters everywhere this summer!”

Added LD’s Mickey Liddell and Pete Shilaimon: “We have been impressed with Variance’s commitment to providing a re-imagined look at independent film releases. It is within the theater that audiences come together as a community to have fun and take home a message that resonates. Luke’s film embodies this same spirit, one that is a ballad to young love and finding yourself. We are beyond thrilled to invite audiences, cowboys, and drag queens alike to the rodeo.”