Production is underway in Vancouver on Dead Rising: Endgame, the sequel to last year’s successful original feature Dead Rising: Watchtower, from Sony-owned Crackle and Legendary Digital Media. It’s slated to premiere this summer.

Based on the hugely popular Dead Rising video game franchise by Capcom, sequel Dead Rising: Endgame drops us into the zombie-infested quarantined zone of East Mission City, where investigative reporter Chase Carter must stop a secret government conspiracy which aims to end the country’s zombie epidemic but also will kill millions of innocent civilians.

Jesse Metcalfe (Desperate Housewives) returns as Carter, the well-known television journalist who goes back underground to stop the military’s rogue operation and break the ultimate story. Keegan Connor Tracy (Once Upon a Time) returns as camera operator and producer Jordan Blair. Attempting to thwart their plans is Dennis Haysbert (24), reprising his role as General Lyons, a crooked military intelligence officer. Patrick Sabongui (The Art of More) returns in a new role, playing a skilled zombie killer and video game aficionado who talks a big and crude game to mask his gentle side.

The film also features new cast including Billy Zane (Zoolander 2) as Rand, a handsome, cruel scientist who was hired by the government to find a cure for the raging zombie infection but instead is conducting horrendous experiments on the infected. Marie Avgeropoulos (The 100) plays Sandra Lowe, a skilled computer hacker and Chase’s on-and-off girlfriend who joins him in his quest to battle the zombie-infested underground and stop General Lyons’ plan. Ian Tracey (Bates Motel, Man of Steel) is George Hancock, the courageous whistleblower who compels Chase and his team to enter a zombie-infested city on a rescue mission. Jessica Harmon (iZombie) plays Jill, a news producer who joins Chase and his intrepid crew to infiltrate a secret laboratory and stop the carnage. Victor Webster (Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce) is Chuck Greene, the reluctant hero and protagonist of the Dead Rising 2 video game. Additionally, Camille Sullivan (The Man in the High Castle) plays Susan Ingot, the CEO of Phenotrans, the manufacturer of Zombrex, the vaccine that keeps the zombie infection at bay.

Eric Berger, GM of Crackle and EVP of Sony Pictures Television Digital Networks said: “With last year’s success of Dead Rising: Watchtower, there was no question that Crackle viewers had an insatiable appetite for this popular and entertaining franchise — we can’t wait to deliver another great feature for this ‘rabid’ and loyal audience.”

Dead Rising: Endgame is directed by Pat Williams (Continuum) and written by Michael Ferris (Terminator Salvation) and Tim Carter (Dead Rising: Watchtower). Dead Rising: Endgame hails from Legendary Digital Media and produced by Tim Carter with Tomas Harlan as the executive producer under their Contradiction Films banner.