Betaal first look: Shah Rukh Khan’s new Netflix series is a period zombie horror

Netflix has released the first look of its upcoming Indian original series, Betaal. The zombie-horror has been produced by Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment and will be released on May 24.

The first look image shows the main characters striking an ominous pose. While one character is holding a rifle, another is holding a lantern.

Betaal stars Viineet Kumar, Aahana Kumra, Suchitra Pillai, Jitendra Joshi, Manjiri Pupala, and Syna Anand. The series’ showrunner is Patrick Graham, who previously directed the horror miniseries Ghoul for the streaming service. Red Chillies previously produced the spy thriller Bard of Blood for Netflix, and has Class of ‘83, starring Bobby Deol, in the pipeline.

Here’s the official synopsis of Betaal:

A remote village becomes the theatre of a breathless battle when a two-century-old Betaal, a British Indian Army officer, and his battalion of zombie redcoats are unleashed. With Indian police pitted against the undead army, hapless villagers are trapped in a horrific, edge-of-your-seat conflict.

Also read: Mrs Serial Killer movie review: Jacqueline Fernandez’s Netflix India film is more torturous than lockdown; one of the worst movies of 2020

“A collaboration between Netflix, Red Chillies entertainment, Blum House (makers of Paranormal Activity, Insidious etc) and SK Global (behind Crazy Rich Asians and Delhi Crime), Betaal is a horror-thriller written and co-directed by Graham. He has previously directed Ghoul starring Radhika Apte and also co-wrote Leila starring Huma Qureshi.The series has been shot extensively in India, especially in Mumbai, Lonavala and Khandala,” said a source.

Netflix has released several Indian original series in 2020. First out of the gate was Jamtara, followed by Taj Mahal 1989, She and then Hasmukh. The streaming service’s most recent Indian original film was Mrs Serial Killer. Betaal is co-produced by Jason Blum’s Blumhouse Productions, SK Global Entertainment, and Ivanhoe Productions.

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