Warm Bodies Writer Isaac Marion Shares Updates On The Sequel Novel

Just the other day, we learned the details about the DVD/Blu-ray release for the feature adaptation of Isaac Marion's novel, Warm Bodies. And we know that the author, who has already followed up the first book with a prequel novella (The New Hunger), is currently working on a sequel to the original book, which will presumably follow up on the lives of Julie and R. Marion offered some updates on the sequel recently, which give us some idea of when the book might be done, and what we can expect.

Spoilers if you haven't read Warm Bodies or have at least seen the movie!

Warm Bodies is set in a post-apocalyptic United States where zombies had overrun most of the country, save some walled off places, including the stadium where Julie and some of the other survivors were hiding out. The story is told from the perspective of R, a zombie with no memory of who he was as a human. When R meets and falls for Julie, the love he feels begins to bring him back to life. Of course, these star-crossed lovers have their obstacles, including Julie's father, General Grigio, who's portrayed a bit more harsh and close-minded in the book than he was in the film. The story ends with a kiss, as love stories so often do, and by that point, R isn't the only zombie who's coming back to life. Though the first book ended with a happy and relatively open-ended conclusion, there's definitely more story that could be told, particularly as it pertains to whatever shift might have occurred in both Julie and R during that final kiss.

When discussing the planned sequel novel in a recent blog entry, Marion didn't offer specifics in terms of what Warm Bodies 2 will involve in the way of plot, though he did assure fans that the title won't be Warm Bodies 2 or Warm Bodies: Even Warmer. From what he says, the sequel will be the conclusion of the story, and this one will be "much bigger" and "more complex" than Warm Bodies. He says it requires a lot of in-brain sketching and planning, which is eventually what leads him to sharing a long list of songs he has on his writing playlist. Included on the list, Bon Iver's "Big Red Machine," Thom Yorke's "Atoms for Peace (Four Tet remix)," and Jenni Potts' "Down There."

Marion says the playlist is a pretty good representation of the feelings that will be involved in the book. He also promises "thrills, jokes and scary shit."

That's some interesting insight into his mindset as a writer.

So those looking for a hint at the general tone of the story on an emotional level might consider checking out the songs on Marion's list.

We'll probably have to wait a while for an official description or a publication date, but Marion says he anticipates the book being finished in the distant future - possibly mid to late 2014.