Revival’s First Five Minutes:Dead Return, Chaos Ignites - IGN Live 2025

IGN Live had the exclusive opportunity to reveal the first five minutes of SYFY's upcoming adaptation of Revival, and we also spoke with the series' co-creator and showrunner, Aaron B. Koontz, about why this show—featuring the dead returning to life in unexpected ways—is definitely worth watching.

Revival is scheduled to premiere on SYFY on June 12, based on the Harvey Award-nominated comic by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, which ran for 47 issues from 2012 to 2017. In our exclusive clip below, we get a glimpse of this world on "Revival Day," the moment the dead awaken. However, these aren't zombies; the undead remain much as they were when alive.

These opening minutes closely follow the comic's introduction, and Koontz explained why that was a smart move.

"It's one of the first scenes in the comic, and it totally hooked us," Koontz said. "I found it intriguing and had no idea where the story would go. Without giving too much away, this scene is more than it appears. As you continue watching, you'll discover those initial moments conceal far more than you first realized."

A standout moment in the clip features one of the undead being cremated at Randy's Crematorium in Wausau, Wisconsin, breaking free and running engulfed in flames. The effect was achieved practically, without relying on CGI.

"We aimed to be ambitious," Koontz said. "I wanted real fire stunts, not computer effects. We filmed in a small town with limited emergency services, and I felt concerned having so many medical staff on standby. I remember hoping nothing would happen in town that night because they were all on our set!"

We also get to meet Randy, portrayed by Graeme Barrett, known for Divorced Dads and Court of Chaos. Koontz discovered him on Instagram and felt he "matched the vibe we wanted, especially contrasted with the serious tone."

"One of my favorite script elements was introducing the main characters through others," Koontz added. "Randy's 'It's not my fault' line mirrors the first words spoken by Wayne Cypress. Immediately, you're drawn into the conflict with Wayne and Dana, giving you a sense of the Cypress family dynamic—which is crucial, as they form the emotional core of the show."

Overall, Revival isn't intended to be overly serious or purely frightening. Instead, it blends scary scenes, melodrama, and plenty of fun. Koontz described it as a mix of Mare of Easttown and Fargo, filled with quirky characters, horror-thriller elements, and a fresh take on zombie tropes that sets it apart.

Revival premieres on SYFY on June 12 and will be available on Peacock the following week. The series stars Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp), Romy Weltman (Backstage), David James Elliott (JAG), Andy McQueen (Mrs. Davis), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Phil Brooks, also known as CM Punk (Mayans M.C.), Gia Sandhu (A Simple Favor), Katharine King So (The Recruit), Maia Jae (In the Dark), Nathan Dales (Letterkenny), Mark Little (Doomlands), Glen Gould (Tulsa King), Lara Jean Chorostecki (Nightmare Alley), and Conrad Coates (Fargo).

The series is based on the Harvey Award-nominated comic of the same name by writer Tim Seeley and artist Mike Norton, published by Image Comics across 47 issues from 2012 to 2017.

For more, check out our exclusive trailer reveal for Revival and all the latest updates from IGN Live.