A cult film that has gained enduring popularity over the past decade, Zombieland remains a noteworthy cinematic comedy. With a star-studded cast, including Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone, Zombieland came out in 2009 and became one of the hottest movies of the year.
Not only can’t fans get enough of the original storyline and hilarious action sequences, but one cameo in particular. Zombieland has earned praise from viewers and critics alike. Bill Murray didn’t just have a blink of an eye and you’ll miss the cameo in the original Zombielandbut he appeared in the sequel, Zombieland: double tap also, leading many fans to wonder how the iconic cameo came about in the first place.
What is “Zombieland” about?
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Zombieland tells the story of a geeky college student named Columbus, played by Eisenberg, who finds himself living in the midst of the zombie apocalypse, according to IMDb. As he makes his way through the carnage, he meets and befriends three strangers: Tallahassee, an aggressive zombie annihilator, played by Harrelson, and two sisters, Wichita and Little Rock, played by Stone and Abigail Breslin.
The four different compatriots travel across the United States in an attempt to find a place free from zombies. At one point, the group heads to Hollywood, California, where they enter the villa of a particular fan-favorite movie star, and chaos and hilarity ensue.
Bill Murray’s cameo in “Zombieland” caused a sensation among fans
In Hollywood, Columbus and his friends enter Murray’s mansion, only to come face to face with the star himself. Murray plays himself in the film, explaining to the group that so far he has managed to survive the zombie apocalypse by pretending to be a zombie himself, even though he’s not actually infected.
However, shortly thereafter, Murray is mistaken for a zombie by Columbus, who shoots and kills him in a shocking and hilarious moment. The group then held an impromptu funeral for Murray, firing into the air four times and throwing his body off the roof of the house and into a dumpster.
Even though Murray’s cameo was a big pop culture moment for viewers, a different actor was originally set to make the funny cameo. According to Cinema Blend, the role of the Hollywood star pretending to be a zombie to overcome the apocalypse was written for Patrick Swayze, in a more action-focused sequence that would have included references to some of Swayze’s iconic films.
Unfortunately, Swayze was unable to commit to the role at the start of filming because he was recently diagnosed with cancer. Although fans love Murray’s appearance in Zombielandthere is no doubt that Swayze would have taken the part if he had been able to appear in the film.
Bill Murray has a surprise reappearance in the 2019 sequel to “Zombieland”
After years of speculation and fan expectations, Zombieland: double tap was released in 2019. The film not only brought together the cast members from the original film, but also brings back Murray for another hilarious cameo. Murray’s appearance, according to the Los Angeles Times, takes place during the film’s credits, in a flashback to a pre-zombie apocalypse.
Spectators see Murray himself give a press conference for a Garfield Continuation. After asking Murray to imitate Garfield as he tears apart a furball, a reporter starts coughing, an indication that he is starting to transform him into a zombie. As the other reporters and staff begin filming, Murray is left to himself in a short, if hilarious, sequence.
Fans loved Murray’s reappearance – and to this day, with rumors of a third Zombieland whirlwind movie, many are wondering if the elusive actor could make yet another cameo appearance. According to MovieWeb, director Ruben Fleischer joked that while a third film is a very real possibility, he’d rather wait a few more years, so “maybe in 2029,” fans might see another addition to the movie. Zombieland universe.
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