At Dorkaholics, we believe there’s a dork in everyone and we love seeing that passion shine through in the stars we interview. Chandler Kinney, who has played the fierce and loyal werewolf Willa since ZOMBIES 2, took time to chat with us ahead of the premiere of ZOMBIES 4 on Disney+. We talked about her dorky roots, her character’s growth, new monsters entering the franchise, and which new song fans won’t be able to stop dancing to.
Nice to meet you! So I first wanted to break the ice and say that at Dorkaholics, we believe that there’s a dork in everyone, and it’s our job to bring that dork out into the world. So what made you a dork growing up?
Chandler Kinney: Oh, I love it. Okay, well, I would say stereotypically dorks are really into learning. I loved school growing up. I loved reading. I loved learning new things. I always excelled in academics, a total teacher’s pet. I also played a lot of video games growing up and got really into that world. I’ve been to Anime Expo four times. I was a big Wizard101 fan. Those are the real dorks. That was my community. I love that.
Anyway, there’s a lot of things that make me a dork, but really what is a dork? I feel like it’s just people who are really passionate about what they’re into. And by that definition, I think we should all be dorks. 100%.
This is ZOMBIES 4, and I know you were introduced in ZOMBIES 2 as one of the leaders of the werewolves. Then in ZOMBIES 3, we discovered aliens. And now, in ZOMBIES 4, we’ve found out that there are vampires both daywalkers and nightwalkers.
Chandler Kinney: Yeah, we just don’t stop! The world keeps expanding.
What was your favorite part about working on ZOMBIES 4, where it introduced the element of vampires, especially because you’re a werewolf, and there’s this alleged bad blood between the two, but we don’t really see that come through in the movie?
Chandler Kinney: Yeah, I think one of my favorite things about the ZOMBIES franchise is how it takes a twist on monster mythology. It draws inspiration and then flips it on its head in a fun, Disney kind of way.
I won’t spoil anything, but I’ll say specifically with the vampires, they’re another nocturnal species. And sometimes they’ve got their fangs, especially when they’re eating their blood fruit. And you know, as a fellow fang-haver, I think there are some similarities between werewolves and vampires that Willa picks up on. She’s like, “Okay, I get you guys.” So there are fun moments, especially between her and the vampires. She kind of takes them under her wing a bit.
Willa really feels like she’s in the perfect place to serve as a mentor. You’ve played this character for five years now, across the movies and even in the animated series.
Chandler Kinney: Yeah! It’s been so surreal seeing how the ZOMBIES franchise has grown and evolved over the years. For me, it’s truly been the gift that keeps on giving. I think a lot of people, lovers of the franchise, feel that way, too. It’s always exciting when the next thing gets announced.
We’ve seen these characters in live-action and in animation. One thing about ZOMBIES is that the world knows no bounds, so who knows where it’ll go next. As you mentioned, Willa is perfectly primed for a camp counselor position. She’s already a mentor to her pack and others. She’s a leader. She likes to protect those she cares about. You really get to see those qualities come out beautifully in this movie.
But you also get to see her be fun and big-sisterly. I’m excited for people to see that side of her, too.
And I’m curious, not only has Willa grown, but how have you grown as an actress from playing her in all these different continuations?
Chandler Kinney: Time keeps ticking! I was 18 when I filmed ZOMBIES 2, and I’m about to turn 25 in a month. So yeah, it’s been a big chunk of my life. Just as people have grown up with Willa, I’ve grown up with her, too.
Not only as an actor but as a person, I’ve grown. All of that life experience gets infused into my work. What’s so cool about this movie is we have the OG generation: Zed, Addison, Eliza, and Willa, and we also have the new gen, the “cool kids on the block,” as they might say. Or, they’d probably say that’s an outdated phrase and they’re way cooler than that!
But it’s fun to see that juxtaposition. The new kids come in with wide-eyed excitement, and for us it’s like, “We’ve done this a few times.” When you see the original four together, you really feel their maturity and experience in and out of Seabrook. It’s cool to see how those two generations interact.
Speaking of interactions, what was your favorite song? I personally think the soundtrack is magnetic, every track is so catchy and energetic.
Chandler Kinney: That’s a great word – magnetic! I’m pocketing that. One of my favorites is “Don’t Mess With Us.” I’m calling it now, I think it’s going to be a fan favorite. It’s high energy, a great blend of pop and rock, and has a driving beat. It’s impossible to listen to without dancing or nodding along. I’ve definitely hit the treadmill to it!
In the movie, it plays when the daywalkers and nightwalkers are fed up with each other. They’ve got their own worlds, lore, and agendas, and sometimes those clash. We’re all like, “Hey, think about working together, we’re better together!” And they’re like, “Nah.”
It’s such a fun song, with some sick burns in the lyrics. And the choreography by Dondraico Johnson is next-level. I tried it once and I’m still tired. But it lights up the screen, it’s just so fun to watch.
Thank you so much for your time today, Chandler. We’re really excited to tell the world to watch ZOMBIES 4 when it premieres on Disney+.
Chandler Kinney: Yes, tune in! We’re excited. Thank you so much!
