IGN Live exclusively debuted the opening five minutes of SYFY's upcoming series Revival, alongside an interview with co-creator and showrunner Aaron B. Koontz. He discussed why this unique take on the dead returning to life is a must-watch.
Revival, premiering on SYFY June 12, is adapted from the Harvey Award-nominated comic by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, which spanned 47 issues from 2012 to 2017. Our exclusive clip below introduces 'Revival Day,' when the dead rise—not as zombies, but as their former selves, unchanged.
These opening moments mirror the comic’s start, and Koontz explained why that fidelity matters.
"It’s one of the comic’s first scenes, and it grabbed us instantly," Koontz said. "It’s unpredictable, and as the series unfolds, you’ll see these initial minutes hide deeper layers than you first thought."
A striking scene shows an undead person cremated at Randy’s Crematorium in Wausau, Wisconsin, breaking free and running ablaze. Koontz emphasized the use of practical effects over CGI for this intense moment.
"I wanted to push boundaries," Koontz said. "We set people on fire without CGI, in a small town with limited resources. We had medical staff on set, and I worried, ‘I hope the town’s okay tonight—they’re all here!’"
We also met Randy, portrayed by Graeme Barrett, known from Divorced Dads and Court of Chaos. Koontz discovered him on Instagram, noting he "perfectly balances the show’s serious and quirky tones."
"The script’s brilliance is that these aren’t our main characters," Koontz said. "Randy’s line, ‘it’s not my fault,’ echoes Wayne Cypress’s first words, pulling you into the Cypress family’s dynamic—a core element of the show."
Revival blends scares, melodrama, and humor, aiming for a tone akin to Mare of Easttown meets Fargo. Expect quirky characters, horror-thriller vibes, and a fresh twist on zombie tropes.
Revival debuts on SYFY June 12, streaming on Peacock the following week. The cast includes Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp), Romy Weltman (Backstage), David James Elliott (JAG), Andy McQueen (Mrs. Davis), Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead), Phil Brooks aka 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 draws from the 2010s Harvey Award-nominated comic by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, published by Image Comics across 47 issues from 2012 to 2017.
For more, see our exclusive Revival trailer reveal and all the highlights from IGN Live.
