Julian Lerner Talks Making a Fang-tastic Debut as Ray in Disney’s ‘ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires’ (Exclusive)

If you’re anything like us, you’ve been counting down the days until ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires dropped on Disney+ — and trust, the newest installment in the monster-packed saga is everything we dreamed of and more. New factions. New music. New conflicts. And yes, new characters you’ll absolutely be obsessed with.

Enter: Julian Lerner, the latest star to step into the ZOMBIES universe as Ray, a high-energy, fiercely loyal Daywalker who’s ready to fight for his people… and maybe take on a leadership role of his own.

“I mean, I was shocked and just genuinely so happy inside,” Julian tells Celeb Secrets in our exclusive interview. “To know that I was going to be a part of this franchise I literally grew up watching—it was such a surreal moment. A dream come true.”

He was actually playing tennis with his dad when the call came through. “I just started running in circles around the court!” he laughs. “That was my physical reaction.”

While the original ZOMBIES films introduced us to werewolves, cheerleaders, and zombies coexisting in the colorful world of Seabrook, ZOMBIES 4 takes things to a whole new level — literally. The story follows Zed and Addison (played by fan favorites Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly) as they head out on a summer road trip… only to get detoured into a full-blown feud between Daywalkers and Vampires.

“It’s got so much heart, love, drama, and action,” Julian explains. “This time there are two new supernatural groups, which makes things so exciting. Every movie has added a new creature, but this time we’ve got both Daywalkers and Vampires — so there’s even more to explore.”

And Ray? He’s right in the thick of it.

Ray isn’t just another side character. He’s a Daywalker with something to prove.

“Ray is loyal. He’s energetic. And he’s passionate,” Julian tells us. “He’s totally dedicated to the Daywalker cause, and he really believes in what they stand for. He wants to lead one day, but right now he’s Nova’s right-hand man. He’s always the first to step up if the Vampires try to mess with us.”

According to Julian, Ray’s devotion is what sets him apart from others in ZOMBIES 4. “Even when he’s not in charge, he never backs down,” he says. “That intensity, that commitment — it really makes him stand out.”

There’s also a deeply emotional arc to Ray’s journey that helps drive the story forward. “He’s caught between loyalty and leadership, and that creates some tension. But I think fans are going to connect with that — especially people who care deeply about their friends and communities.”

Filming for ZOMBIES 4 took place in New Zealand, and Julian can’t stop raving about the experience.

“It was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it,” he shares. “We filmed on cliffs, beaches, caves, forests — almost everything you see in the movie is real. The scenery was insane.”

And the bond with the cast? Just as epic.

“We had dinners, game nights, hung out a bunch off set — it really felt like a family,” Julian says. “Milo and Meg were so welcoming. Milo has such a good, pure heart, and Meg is just incredibly supportive. From the beginning, they made us all feel like we belonged.”

Though Julian admits he felt a little pressure stepping into a fan-favorite franchise, those nerves quickly disappeared. “Yes, I was nervous,” he says. “There’s such a loyal fanbase — people love this universe. But once we got there, the OGs helped us settle in. They said, ‘Let’s have fun and make something great.’ And we did.”

No ZOMBIES movie is complete without iconic musical numbers, and Dawn of the Vampires seriously delivers.

“There are some big dances, big songs, high energy performances — but also a lot of heart,” Julian shares. “There’s even this element of dancing through conflict. It’s kind of like a PG version of West Side Story. You’ve got this tension between two groups, but the choreography brings it all to life.”

Rehearsals started a month before shooting, and Julian says the work was intense but so worth it. “I really wanted to get it right. I wanted people to watch the movie and be impressed. Draco Johnson, our choreographer, is amazing — he made sure we were locked in by the time we hit set.”

So which track will have fans obsessively hitting replay?

“‘Place to Be’ is definitely the one,” Julian says. “It’s upbeat, super catchy, and introduces both the Vampires and Daywalkers. You can dance to it, sing along — it’s going to be everywhere.”

He also teases that the energy during filming was just as infectious. “There’s this one scene where I have a joke — and Freya [Nova] could not stop laughing. Then I started laughing. Then Jono [Victor’s dad] joined in. It took us forever to finish the take, but that’s what made it so fun. It really felt like we were making something special together.”

While ZOMBIES 4 marks the beginning of Julian’s journey in the franchise, he’s already thinking ahead.

“If there’s a ZOMBIES 5, I’m there. No question,” he says. “I’d love to see Ray grow into more of a leader — maybe even connect more with the Vampires and help build some peace. I think there’s a lot more to explore with him.”

For now, Julian is just soaking in the moment — and celebrating everything the cast and crew created.

“Everyone poured their hearts into this movie. The energy, the passion, the love — it’s all there on screen,” he says. “If you’ve watched the other ZOMBIES movies, this one will give you everything you love — and then some.”

ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires is streaming now on Disney+ and airing on Disney Channel — and whether you’re team Daywalker or team Vampire, you’re going to fall head-over-fangs for Ray. Trust us: Julian Lerner just became your new favorite triple threat.

For more on Julian and his role in Zombies 4, make sure to watch our full interview below — and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the flick by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.

Interview quotes have been edited and condensed for clarity.