LOS ANGELES — Disney+ and Disney Channel have officially given the green light to “ZOMBIES 5,” with Freya Skye and Malachi Barton set to return to their roles as Nova and Victor from “ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires.”

Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly, who brought the franchise’s beloved characters Zed and Addison to life, will once again serve as executive producers. Trevor Tordjman is also coming back as Bucky, the popular cheer captain and Addison’s cousin.

Returning from the previous installment are Swayam Bhatia as Vera, Julian Lerner as Ray, and Mekonnen Knife as Vargas, continuing their roles into the new movie.

The announcement of the new film also brings an exciting twist with the introduction of mermaids to the storyline. Fans might recall the dramatic conclusion of “ZOMBIES 4,” featuring a massive water tornado rising from the ocean, hinting at this new development.

Speculation has been rife about the implications of this scene, and Freya Skye herself shared some intriguing theories in a conversation last October. Now, the mystery is finally unveiled!

The upcoming movie will welcome a trio of enigmatic mermaids, portrayed by Diaana Babnicova as the stylish Pearl, Taylor Oliver as the rebellious Fin, and Olive Mortimer as the tech-savvy Sandy. Additionally, Emily Costtrici will join the cast as Izzy, a new zombie character who is Zed’s cousin and a recent transfer student.

“‘ZOMBIES’ has become a defining franchise for the current generation,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television. “With each movie, we intentionally push the story somewhere new. Introducing mermaids in ‘ZOMBIES 5’ opens up a completely different dynamic, while staying true to the music, characters and themes of unity and acceptance that are at the heart of these films.”

Paul Hoen, director and executive producer of the entire “ZOMBIES” franchise, will return for this latest installment. Other returning executive producers include Jane Fleming, Mark Ordesky, Joseph Raso and David Light and producer Skot Bright. The movie features dance sequences choreographed by Dondraico Johnson and an original score composed by Tom Howe. Joining the creative team are writers Chris Hazzard, Michael Fontana and Eydie Faye.

Production begins this spring in New Zealand, which is where primary shooting took place for the previous film.

An official title will be announced at a later date.

The “ZOMBIES” franchise is streaming now on Disney+.

The Walt Disney Company is the parent company of Disney+ and this ABC station.