The cast of Zombies is entering a new era as Disney prepares Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea for Disney Channel and Disney+ in 2027. The upcoming movie keeps several performers from Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires while introducing a new group of mermaid characters and another important connection to Zed.
The biggest change is the shift in the franchise’s leading pair. Malachi Barton and Freya Skye will continue as Victor and Nova, making them the central stars of the next installment. Trevor Tordjman also returns as Bucky, a familiar character from the original trilogy.
Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly remain connected to the project as executive producers. However, they will not return to play Zed and Addison in the fifth movie.
That change gives the franchise a different on-screen focus while preserving several familiar connections. Disney has also confirmed four new performers for the upcoming story, including three actors playing mermaids.
The Current Lineup
The latest confirmed lineup combines returning performers from the fourth movie with several new additions.
The returning performers are:
- Malachi Barton as Victor
- Freya Skye as Nova
- Trevor Tordjman as Bucky
- Swayam Bhatia as Vera
- Julian Lerner as Ray
- Mekonnen Knife as Vargas
The new additions are:
- Diaana Babnicova as Pearl
- Taylor Oliver as Fin
- Olive Mortimer as Sandy
- Emily Costtrici as Izzy
This lineup makes the direction of the fifth movie clear. Victor and Nova now occupy the central positions, while the mermaids become the newest supernatural group in the story.
Malachi Barton Returns as Victor
Malachi Barton is taking a leading role in the next chapter after making his franchise debut in Zombies 4.
Victor is a vampire who became closely connected to Nova, a Daywalker. Their relationship helped drive the fourth movie and became an important part of the franchise’s expanded supernatural world.
The fifth movie continues Victor’s story.
After the events of the previous installment, the peace between Daywalkers and vampires faces another challenge. A group of fierce mermaids arrives in Rayburn, creating a new threat to the balance between the supernatural communities.
Victor must work with Nova again to understand what the newcomers want.
Barton is therefore not simply returning as a supporting performer. His character is one of the two main figures carrying the franchise forward.
Freya Skye Continues as Nova
Freya Skye returns as Nova, the Daywalker who became one of the central new characters in the fourth film.
Nova’s introduction changed the direction of the franchise by adding Daywalkers to the supernatural mix. Her connection with Victor also gave the story a new relationship at its center.
That storyline continues in Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea.
Nova and Victor must once again bring their groups together when the mermaids arrive in Rayburn. Their mission involves discovering what the new arrivals are seeking before the fragile peace collapses.
Skye’s return confirms that Nova will remain a major part of the franchise rather than serving as a one-film addition.
Her role also represents the transition from the original trilogy’s leading characters to the newer generation.
Trevor Tordjman Returns as Bucky
Trevor Tordjman is one of the most recognizable returning faces from the original era.
He plays Bucky, Addison’s cousin and the cheer captain. The character appeared in the original trilogy and returns for the fifth installment.
Bucky’s involvement is especially notable because Zed and Addison are not returning as on-screen leads.
His presence gives longtime viewers a familiar connection to the earlier movies while the story shifts toward Victor and Nova.
Tordjman’s return also demonstrates that Disney is not completely separating the new chapter from the franchise’s earlier characters.
Swayam Bhatia Returns as Vera
Swayam Bhatia reprises Vera after appearing in Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.
Vera became part of the expanded group introduced during the fourth movie. Her return provides continuity as the story moves away from the previous vampire-focused conflict and introduces the mermaids.
Bhatia joins Barton, Skye, Tordjman, Julian Lerner and Mekonnen Knife among the confirmed returning performers.
Her continued involvement keeps several characters from the fourth movie together for the new adventure.
Julian Lerner Returns as Ray
Julian Lerner also returns as Ray.
The character was introduced in the fourth movie and remains part of the ensemble moving into the fifth installment.
Ray’s return is important because the new story begins after the events that established the fragile peace between the Daywalkers and vampires.
Rather than resetting the story, the fifth movie builds on those developments.
Lerner’s continued presence helps connect the two films and gives the new storyline a familiar supporting ensemble.
Mekonnen Knife Returns as Vargas
Mekonnen Knife reprises Vargas in the upcoming film.
Vargas was part of the supernatural ensemble introduced in Zombies 4. His return places him alongside Victor, Nova, Vera and Ray as the franchise expands again.
The confirmed return of these performers shows that Disney intends to carry forward more than just the two main characters from the fourth movie.
Several members of that ensemble remain part of the story even as a new supernatural group takes center stage.
Diaana Babnicova Joins as Pearl
Diaana Babnicova is one of the most important new additions to the upcoming movie.
She plays Pearl, described as a cool-girl mermaid.
Pearl belongs to a trio of mermaids arriving in Rayburn. Their arrival creates the central conflict of the fifth story.
The addition of mermaids marks another expansion of the franchise’s supernatural world.
Earlier installments introduced zombies, werewolves, aliens, vampires and Daywalkers. The new film now adds mermaids to that growing mix.
Babnicova’s Pearl will therefore be part of a completely new group that has not previously appeared in the movie series.
Taylor Oliver Plays Fin
Taylor Oliver joins the franchise as Fin, a bad-boy merman.
Fin is part of the same mermaid group as Pearl and Sandy.
The character gives the new supernatural community another distinct personality and helps establish the trio as a major part of the upcoming story.
Oliver is among the performers officially announced for the fifth film.
His addition also shows that the mermaid storyline will involve several characters rather than a single new creature or antagonist.
Olive Mortimer Plays Sandy
Olive Mortimer joins the cast as Sandy, a tech-wiz mermaid.
Sandy completes the trio of new mermaid characters alongside Pearl and Fin.
Her technical abilities give the character a distinctive role within the group. The three newcomers are designed to bring different personalities into the supernatural world while becoming part of the larger conflict involving Victor and Nova.
Mortimer’s casting represents another major step in expanding the franchise beyond its established communities.
Emily Costtrici Plays Izzy
Emily Costtrici is joining the cast as Izzy, a zombie and Zed’s cousin.
Izzy is also described as a new transfer student.
Her connection to Zed makes her one of the most direct links between the new movie and the original protagonist.
That connection becomes particularly interesting because Milo Manheim is not returning to the fifth movie as Zed.
Instead, the franchise introduces a family member who can keep the zombie side of the story connected to the character.
Costtrici therefore has a role that bridges the original mythology and the newer storyline.
Milo Manheim’s New Role
Milo Manheim remains associated with the franchise even though Zed is not returning as a main on-screen character.
Manheim is serving as an executive producer on the fifth movie.
His transition behind the camera represents a significant change after playing Zed throughout the first four films.
Zed was one of the franchise’s defining characters. His relationship with Addison formed the emotional foundation of the original movies.
The fifth installment takes a different approach.
Manheim’s production role allows him to remain involved with the franchise while Barton and Skye lead the on-screen story.
That change is one of the biggest developments surrounding the current lineup.
Meg Donnelly’s Role in the New Movie
Meg Donnelly is also returning behind the scenes as an executive producer.
Donnelly played Addison throughout the first four movies. Addison became one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters and the central partner to Zed.
She will not reprise Addison in the fifth film.
Instead, Donnelly joins Manheim in an executive producer role.
Her continued involvement means both original leads remain connected to the franchise even as the characters they played move out of the spotlight.
That distinction is important when looking at the current cast. Manheim and Donnelly are still part of the project, but they are no longer members of the fifth movie’s principal on-screen lineup.
The Transition From Zed and Addison
The move away from Zed and Addison is not an abrupt break from the franchise.
Their stories shaped the first three movies and continued into the fourth. However, the introduction of Victor and Nova provided Disney with a natural way to broaden the series.
The fifth movie now places those newer characters at the center.
Victor and Nova must protect the peace established between Daywalkers and vampires. Their challenge becomes more complicated when the mermaids arrive.
Bucky also returns, giving the story a recognizable connection to Addison and the original trilogy.
Izzy adds another connection through her relationship with Zed.
The result is a cast that moves forward without completely abandoning the characters who established the franchise.
The Role of the New Mermaids
The mermaids are the biggest new addition to the supernatural side of the franchise.
Pearl, Fin and Sandy arrive in Rayburn and disrupt the fragile harmony between the existing groups.
Their arrival drives the story of Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea.
The three characters also give the movie a new visual and thematic direction.
Instead of repeating the vampire and Daywalker conflict from the previous film, the fifth installment introduces an entirely different supernatural community.
This keeps the series focused on its established themes while giving the characters a new challenge.
Why Victor and Nova Matter So Much
Victor and Nova are now the key figures in the franchise’s next stage.
Their relationship began in Zombies 4, where the story brought vampires and Daywalkers into the center of the action.
Their partnership continues into the next movie.
The arrival of the mermaids forces them to cooperate again. They must determine what the newcomers want and protect the peace that their communities have worked to establish.
That makes Barton and Skye the central performers in the new chapter.
Their characters also represent the franchise’s ability to introduce new leads without completely discarding its earlier history.
The Connection to the Original Characters
Even without Zed and Addison appearing as the principal characters, the fifth movie retains several links to the original films.
Bucky returns as one of the familiar characters.
Izzy also provides a direct connection to Zed because she is his cousin.
Manheim and Donnelly remain involved as executive producers.
These elements allow the franchise to move forward while maintaining continuity with its earlier stories.
The approach also creates room for new characters to establish their own identities.
Current Status of the Fifth Movie
Disney has confirmed Zombies 5: Secrets of the Sea for Disney Channel and Disney+ in 2027.
The movie began production in New Zealand in 2026.
Disney revealed the official title in May 2026 after previously announcing the fifth movie without a finalized title.
The film continues under director Paul Hoen, who has directed the entire Zombies movie franchise.
The writing team includes Chris Hazzard, Michael Fontana and Eydie Faye.
An exact U.S. premiere date has not been announced.
For fans tracking the latest information, 2027 remains the confirmed release year.
A Quick Look at the Confirmed Cast
| Actor | Character | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Malachi Barton | Victor | Returning lead |
| Freya Skye | Nova | Returning lead |
| Trevor Tordjman | Bucky | Returning |
| Swayam Bhatia | Vera | Returning |
| Julian Lerner | Ray | Returning |
| Mekonnen Knife | Vargas | Returning |
| Diaana Babnicova | Pearl | New |
| Taylor Oliver | Fin | New |
| Olive Mortimer | Sandy | New |
| Emily Costtrici | Izzy | New |
| Milo Manheim | Zed | Executive producer |
| Meg Donnelly | Addison | Executive producer |
What the Cast Says About the Franchise’s Future
The current lineup points toward a clear evolution.
The original movies were built around Zed and Addison. Their relationship connected humans, zombies and other supernatural communities.
Now Victor and Nova are taking over the central roles.
The fifth movie adds another supernatural group through Pearl, Fin and Sandy. Izzy also introduces a new zombie character with a direct family connection to Zed.
At the same time, Bucky remains part of the story.
This approach gives Disney an opportunity to preserve recognizable elements while building a newer ensemble around younger characters.
The result is not simply another continuation of the original cast. It is a deliberate shift toward a broader group of characters.
What Fans Can Expect From the Current Lineup
The confirmed cast points to a movie built around several intersecting groups.
Victor and Nova will lead the effort to maintain peace.
Bucky provides a familiar connection to the original trilogy.
Vera, Ray and Vargas continue from the previous movie.
Pearl, Fin and Sandy introduce the mermaid community.
Izzy brings another zombie into the story while maintaining a family link to Zed.
Together, these performers create the foundation for the fifth movie’s new chapter.
For viewers who followed the franchise from its beginning, the most noticeable change will be the absence of Zed and Addison as on-screen leads. For newer fans, the transition gives Victor and Nova a larger opportunity to shape the direction of the series.
As the 2027 release approaches, the confirmed lineup already shows that Disney is expanding the supernatural world rather than simply repeating the formula of earlier installments.
The next chapter has a fresh lineup and familiar connections—share your favorite character and stay tuned for the latest updates on the franchise.