March 29, 2004
Shaun of the Dead - "You got red on you"
London premiere of Shaun of the Dead, a British “romantic zombie comedy” directed by Ed Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost.
The film basically is one big homage to George Romero’s original Dead trilogy, featuring numerous references to all three films. Dawn of the Dead nods include several excerpts from the original soundtrack, as well as the main character working in a store called “Foree Electric”.
George Romero himself is so enamoured of Shaun that he eventually invites Pegg and Wright out to the Canadian set of Land of the Dead to appear as zombie extras in the film.
May 2004
Scott Reiniger - The Knight who would be Prince
Dawn of the Dead lead actor Scott Reiniger makes the international headlines when it is revealed that he is the great, great, great grandson of Josiah Harlan, the first American to set foot in Afghanistan.
As a result of a treaty Harlan has signed back in the day, his heirs are granted the title Prince of Ghor in perpetuity.
However, Reiniger shows no intent of officially claiming the title and suggests passing it on to his younger brother, Harlan.
September 7, 2004
Dawn of the Dead Anchor Bay Box Set
Anchor Bay release a 4-DVD “Ultimate Edition” box set of the film which contains all three official versions as well as several extras; including a new, feature-length “making of” documentary and private 8mm home movie footage filmed at the Monroeville Mall set by zombie extras Ralph and Bob Langer.
September 2004
Dawn of the Dead IDW Publishing
A comic adaptation of the film written by Steve Niles and illustrated by Chee is issued by IDW Publishing as both a three-volume series and a complete bound paperback.
George Romero himself provides the foreword.
June 21, 2005
Tom Savini as Zombified "Blades"
Pittsburgh premiere of George Romero’s fourth Dead film, Land of the Dead, in which Tom Savini reprises his role as Dawn’s machete-wielding biker “Blades” during a short cameo; now portraying a zombified version of the original character after his earlier demise at the Monroeville Mall.
2005 – 2007
A somewhat unexpected wave of new, officially licensed Dawn of the Dead merchandise products released over this period includes three different 7-inch action figures issued as part of NECA’s “Cult Classics” line, a pair of (very awkward) “Flyboy” and “Plaid Boy” Halloween costumes plus matching overhead latex masks, wall calendars, a deck of playing cards, and a chain wallet.
NECA’s “Cult Classics”
“Flyboy” Halloween Mask
Dawn of the Dead playing cards
August 2006
Maryland-based indie rock band The Sprites release a song called George Romero on their second full-length album, Modern Gameplay. Although not being the first musical nod to Dawn of the Dead, it is certainly the most direct homage to date, with the lyrics clearly referencing the film’s plot throughout. In addition to George Romero, Dario Argento and Tom Savini are name-dropped in the song’s chorus as well, while two original dialog samples from the movie (by Christine Forrest and Ken Foree, respectively) can be heard at its beginning and end.
February 2008
Dead Rising - Zombies in a shopping mall
Richard Rubinstein files a copyright infringement lawsuit against video game manufacturers Capcom, who in 2006 have released an Xbox 360 game called Dead Rising that bears remarkable similarities to Dawn of the Dead.
The case eventually is ruled out in Capcom’s favour by a San Francisco judge in October of the same year, on the grounds of a “wholly unprotectable concept of humans battling zombies in a mall during a zombie outbreak.”
On a side note, the game – just like the original film – is banned in Germany.