Local Filmmaker Announces U.S. Film Premiere

Former North Strabane newspaper publisher-turned-movie-producer Cody Knotts will premiere his film “Pro Wrestlers vs. Zombies” in England in October, with a premiere in the United States to follow.

The feature-length film, written and produced in Western Pennsylvania, stars WWE Hall of Famers Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Olympic gold medalist Kurt Angle, former WWE superstar Matt Hardy, and former ECW champion Shane Douglas.

It will premiere in the United States on Nov. 22 at the historic State Theatre Center for the Arts in Uniontown. Cast and crew will attend the Uniontown screening and greet fans at the pre-party at Meloni's Restaurant and post-party at DiMarco's.

The film's world premiere will be held at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival in Whitby, England on Oct. 23 in the theater where “Dracula” author Bram Stoker worked. It also will be shown in Italy and Germany, and the tour includes a showing at Europe's largest horror convention, Weekend of Horrors, before returning to the United States for its first local screening.

Following the United States premiere in Uniontown, it will be shown at the Kraine Theater in New York City on Nov. 23 as part of the first national pro wresting-related film festival.

The film is a revenge story that features two heroes, two antiheroes, and two villains. While acknowledging the current popularity of zombies, director Cody Knotts, of Charleroi, acknowledged the current popularity of zombies in a recent released statement, but said "the film differs in returning zombies to their black magic origins. Rather than another zombie apocalypse film, the heroes are facing a foe bent on using the undead for his own purposes."

In addition to internationally known professional wrestlers, the cast includes Taya Parker, Reby Sky, Matthew Rush, Sylvester Terkay, and TNA announcer SoCal Val.