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Exclusive First Look: SYFY’s Revival Premieres June 12 — A Haunting Blend of Horror, Heart, and Humor
Get ready for a resurrection — literally. SYFY’s highly anticipated new series Revival, adapted from the acclaimed Harvey Award-nominated comic by Tim Seeley and Mike Norton, makes its debut on June 12, and IGN has secured the first five minutes of the chilling premiere.
In this exclusive clip, viewers are thrust into Revival Day — the surreal moment when the dead rise, not as mindless zombies, but as they were in life: whole, aware, and eerily unchanged. The episode opens with a hauntingly faithful adaptation of the original comic’s iconic first pages, immediately drawing audiences into a world where grief, mystery, and the supernatural collide.
Co-creator and showrunner Aaron B. Koontz calls the opening sequence "one of the most compelling moments in the source material" — and he’s not wrong. “I had no idea where the story was going,” Koontz shared. “And even after watching later episodes, you’ll realize how much was hidden in plain sight. It’s layered, psychological, and deeply unsettling in the best way.”
One standout scene features an undead man breaking free mid-cremation at Randy’s Crematorium in Wausau, Wisconsin — engulfed in flames, yet still walking. This wasn’t CGI. It was practical effects, executed with full commitment. “I wanted to set people on fire,” Koontz confessed with a grin. “No green screens, no digital tricks. We had the entire local emergency crew on standby — and I kept thinking, Please, let nothing happen in town tonight.”
The character of Randy, played by Graeme Barrett (Divorced Dads, Court of Chaos), was discovered on Instagram — a casting choice that perfectly captured the show’s tone: deadpan wit wrapped around deep unease. His defense — “It’s not my fault” — echoes the first line spoken by lead character Wayne Cypress, instantly establishing the emotional core of the series: a fractured family grappling with loss, guilt, and the impossible return of a loved one.
“Randy’s line isn’t just a joke,” Koontz explained. “It’s a mirror. The same way Wayne says, ‘It’s not my fault,’ when he’s not even sure what he’s done yet. That duality — humor in the face of horror — is what defines Revival.”
Blending the emotional depth of Mare of Easttown, the darkly quirky tone of Fargo, and the escalating dread of a true horror-thriller, Revival isn’t just about zombies. It’s about what happens when the dead don’t stay buried — and what they remember.
The series also features a powerhouse ensemble cast, including:
- Melanie Scrofano (Wynonna Earp) as Dana Cypress
- Romy Weltman (Backstage)
- David James Elliott (JAG)
- Andy McQueen (Mrs. Davis)
- Steven Ogg (The Walking Dead)
- Phil Brooks (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)
- Conrad Coates (Fargo)
Based on the 47-issue comic series from Image Comics (2012–2017), Revival redefines the zombie genre by focusing on identity, memory, and the cost of second chances.
Premiering June 12 on SYFY, Revival will be available to stream on Peacock the following week.
For more exclusive content, check out our first-ever trailer reveal and dive into all the latest from IGN Live. The dead are walking — and they’ve got stories to tell.
Watch the first five minutes now — and prepare to question everything you thought you knew about death.
