Milo Manheim sat down with Young Hollywood to break down his transition into executive producing Zombies 4, filming on location, and his growing screen slate.
Milo Manheim took his breakout role as green-haired zombie football star Zed in Disney's Zombies and turned it into a multi-film franchise run, a Dancing with the Stars finals appearance at seventeen, and a starring role in School Spirits. Now, the Venice, California native is stepping behind the scenes as an executive producer on Zombies 4. In an exclusive interview, Milo Manheim sat down with Young Hollywood to reflect on his evolving creative responsibilities, learning the technical ropes on set, and what it means to steer the franchise that launched his career.
Young Hollywood has tracked Manheim's journey across six stories since 2018, spanning his early Disney Channel days to his musical turn in Journey to Bethlehem. Watching him shift from an energetic teenage newcomer to an executive producer marks a deliberate expansion of his craft. Alongside longtime co-star Meg Donnelly, Manheim brought years of franchise familiarity directly into production meetings. Watch our full sit-down with Milo Manheim below.
Stepping Up to the Executive Producer Table
Taking on executive producer responsibilities meant entering creative conversations with a completely different perspective. Having lived in the character of Zed across multiple sequels, Manheim understood the world inside and out, but navigating production mechanics required learning from the seasoned crew around him.
"We get it. We get the vibes. And also, you know, I think because of the other producers, they were so helpful in like, you know, the flow of things and how this gets done," Milo Manheim told Young Hollywood. The experience provided a direct education in how creative pitches translate into practical filming schedules. "But I feel like we made some really great suggestions and, you know, even if we brought something up, it was just a good lesson of like, this is why we do it this way."
Growing up around sets with his mother, actress Camryn Manheim, gave him early exposure to professional productions, but actively contributing to production decisions brought a new level of ownership. Balancing the demands of learning choreography, running vocal tracks, and reviewing production details gave the project an entirely fresh dimension.
Filming on Location Across New Zealand
For Zombies 4, the production shifted halfway across the globe to New Zealand. While modern franchise filmmaking often leans heavily on digital sets, the production utilized practical, sweeping environments across the country's natural terrain.
Manheim noted the sharp contrast between green-screen assumptions and the physical environments they actually utilized. "Unbelievable. It was an unbelievable experience. Seriously. Yeah, someone like was watching the place to be and they were like, you went all the way to New Zealand and you green screen?" Manheim recalled. "Which it's not. These are real locations. But also just as a film nerd, there's been so many cool things that have shot in those locations."
Working on location brought unpredictable weather and physical hurdles, but being in authentic environments directly informed the cast's energy on set. "And that honestly, I feel like more than anything, really helps us to be able to give the best performance that we can," Manheim explained. The shared experience of weathering practical shoot days forged an even tighter bond among the returning cast and the newcomers joining the franchise.
Building a Versatile Multi-Genre Slate
Beyond the musical numbers and pastel palettes of Seabrook, Manheim has steadily diversified his acting portfolio. His turn as high school spirit Wally Clark in the supernatural mystery series School Spirits showcased his ability to balance emotional vulnerability and sharp comedic timing.
Whether navigating ballroom routines on Season 27 of Dancing with the Stars, tackling stage work, or singing in holiday musical productions like Journey to Bethlehem, Manheim has built a foundation across theater, television, and film. He approaches each new medium with the discipline of a performer who grew up studying the craft from the ground up.
Welcoming the Next Wave of Talent
With new cast members joining the ensemble, Manheim found himself in the position of welcoming incoming actors who grew up watching the original films. "That was crazy. So surreal. When Freya walked in the first time, it was very clear she was a big Zombies fan," he shared. Stepping into a veteran presence on set came naturally through simple, unpretentious collaboration. "I was sitting right there. And we awkwardly made eye contact and we're like, hey, we should go run lines together."
From breakout musical lead to executive producer, Manheim continues to direct his career with equal parts enthusiasm and practical focus. By pairing screen versatility with behind-the-scenes leadership, he is actively mapping out the next chapter of his work on his own terms.
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