What We Do in the Shadows (franchise)

The What We Do in the Shadows franchise consists of New Zealand and American mockumentary horror-comedy installments including one limited-theatrical film, a number of short films, two spin-off television series, and one digital series. Created by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the plot concerns several vampires who live together in shared accommodation, who are followed by a documentary film crew.

What We Do in the Shadows
Official franchise logo, as released in 2019.
Created by
Original workWhat We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2005)
Years2005–present
Films and television
Film(s)What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
Television series

Films

FilmN.Z. release dateU.S. release dateDirectorsScreenwritersProducersStatus
What We Do in the ShadowsJanuary 9, 2014 (2014-01-09)February 13, 2015 (2015-02-13)Taika Waititi & Jemaine ClementTaika Waititi, Emanuel Michael & Chelsea WinstanleyReleased
We're WolvesTBATBATBATaika Waititi & Jemaine ClementTBAIn development

What We Do in the Shadows (2014)

Vampire housemates (Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh) cope with the complexities of modern life and introduce a newly turned vampire to the benefits of being undead.[1]

We're Wolves (TBA)

A sequel to the What We Do in the Shadows, focused on the werewolves depicted in the film, originally rumoured to be titled What We Do in the Moonlight, was announced as being in development in August 2015.[2][3] In May 2019 Taika Waititi said "We're Wolves is the film that Jemaine and I keep pretending that we’re making. Every couple of years we say, we’re making this new film called We're Wolves which follows the werewolves from the film,” said Waititi. “I feel bad to even mention it now because we keep saying it, [but] it’s like a dad saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll be home for Christmas.’ I suppose we’re just two dads out on the road enjoying our lives and going, ‘We’re not coming home for Christmas.’ We'll send a postcard. It's not like we don't want to come home for Christmas. We would like nothing more but we have a lot of shit going on. When are you going to die? Do you have a ... deadline before your death? I guarantee it before then. Five years, 10 years? It took us seven years to write the [first] film, so you do the math. That was a sad thing to say."[4]

Short films

FilmRelease dateDirector(s)Screenwriter(s)Producer
What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some VampiresJanuary 1, 2005 (2005-01-01)Taika Waititi & Jemaine ClementTyler Cogan
Dating 101 with ViagoMay 22, 2014 (2014-05-22)[5]Taika WaititiAngela Meyer
A Vampire's Guide to VellingtonJune 8, 2014 (2014-06-08)David Perks

What We Do in the Shadows: Interviews with Some Vampires (2005)

The original 29-minute short film by Taika Waititi & Jemaine Clement, which inspired their 2014 film. In the short, three vampires—Deacon Brugh (Jonny Brugh), Count Viago (Waititi), and Vulvus the Abhorrent (Clement)—who share an apartment are interviewed by a TV crew.[6]

Dating 101 with Viago (2014)

A short film and advertisement campaign to promote the online dating services FindSomeone and Dating for Shoes. The film follows Dating for Shoes founder Angela Meyer giving Viago a tutorial on creating his very own FindSomeone profile: from creating a username, to describing his hobbies and interests.[7]

Vampire's Guide to Vellington (2014)

A short film and advertisement campaign by Wellington, as a comedic promotion that the city is a vampire-friendly place to visit. The film follows vampire Viago promoting the nightlife, cinemas and clothes shops of the city alongside his flatmates Vladislav and Deacon. As part of the campaign, the 'W' in the Wellington Blown Away sign on Miramar hill was temporarily changed to a blood-red 'V'.[8]

Television

SeriesSeasonEpisodesOriginally airedShowrunner(s)Status
First airedLast airedNetwork
Wellington Paranormal1611 July 2018 (2018-07-11)15 August 2018 (2018-08-15)* TVNZ 2 (New Zealand)Taika Waititi & Jemaine ClementReleased
2616 October 2019 (2019-10-16)20 November 2019 (2019-11-20)
Special19 December 2019 (2019-12-19)
3624 February 2021 (2021-02-24)31 March 2021 (2021-03-31)
4616 February 2022 (2022-02-16)23 March 2022 (2022-03-23)
What We Do in the Shadows110March 27, 2019 (2019-03-27)May 29, 2019 (2019-05-29)FXPaul SimmsReleased
210April 15, 2020 (2020-04-15)June 10, 2020 (2020-06-10)
310September 2, 2021 (2021-09-02)October 28, 2021 (2021-10-28)
410July 12, 2022 (2022-07-12)September 6, 2022 (2022-09-06)
510July 13, 2023 (2023-07-13)August 31, 2023 (2023-08-31)
6TBATBATBAIn development[9]

Wellington Paranormal (2018–2022)

The series follows Officers Minogue and O'Leary, who originally appeared as secondary characters in the 2014 film. They join a paranormal division of the Wellington Police Department under Sergeant Maaka (Maaka Pohatu). The show debuted on TVNZ 2 in 2018, and was renewed several times. The fourth and final season aired in 2022.[10]

What We Do in the Shadows (2019–present)

The series follows four vampire roommates and one vampire familiar living on Staten Island.

In May 2020, the series was ordered for a third season, while season two was still airing.[11]Production for season three was set to start in February 2021, before being postponed to later in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[12]

Digital series

Important COVID-19 Messages from Wellington Paranormal is a sixteen-episode digital web series and public service campaign released in 2020 by New Zealand Police to inform the public on health, safety, and best practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The series follows Officers Minogue and O'Leary in home isolation, and features several guests including Sergeant Maaka and Officer Parker. The series also includes Andrew Coster and Clarke Gayford as themselves.[13]

Main cast and characters

List indicator(s)

This section includes characters who will appear or have appeared in noteworthy roles.

  • An empty, dark grey cell indicates the character was not in the installment, or that the character's official presence has not yet been confirmed.
  •  A indicates an appearance through archival footage or audio.
  •  C indicates a cameo role.
  •  G indicates a guest appearance in the installment.
  •  P indicates an appearance in onscreen photographs.
  •  R indicates a recurring role in the installment.
  •  V indicates a voice-only role.
CharacterFilmTelevisionShort films
What We Do in the ShadowsWellington ParanormalWhat We Do in the Shadows
12341234
Viago Von Dorna Schmarten Scheden HeimburgTaika WaititiTaika WaititiGTaika WaititiATaika WaititiRTBATaika Waititi
Vladislav "The Poker" PokerisJemaine ClementJemaine ClementVJemaine ClementJemaine Clement
Deacon BruckeJonny BrughJonny BrughGJonny BrughAJonny Brugh
Officer Kyle MinogueMike MinogueMike Minogue
Officer O'LearyKaren O'LearyKaren O'Leary
Nick MacureCori Gonzalez-MacuerCori Gonzalez-Macuer
Wesley the DaywalkerWesley SnipesPWesley SnipesG
Anton the Park RangerRhys DarbyRhys DarbyG
DionCohen Holloway
PetyrBen Fransham
StuStu Rutherford
CliftonSimon Vincent
JackieJackie van Beek
JulianJason Hoyte
Katherine HeimburgEthel Robinson
Pauline "The Beast"Elena Stejko
Sergeant Ruawai MaakaMaaka PohatuMaaka Pohatu
Constable ParkerThomas SainsburyThomas Sainsbury
Demon GirlErika Camacho
Clarke GayfordHimself
Mrs. O'LearyLynda Topp
Nandor the RelentlessKayvan Novak
Laszlo CravensworthMatt Berry
NadjaNatasia Demetriou
Nadja DollNatasia DemetriouV
Guillermo De la CruzHarvey Guillén
Colin RobinsonMark Proksch
Colin Robinson IIMark ProkschGMark Proksch
SeanAnthony AtamanuikR
Jeff Suckler / GregorJake McDormanRJake McDormanG
Simon the DeviousNick KrollG
Baron AfanasDoug JonesRDoug JonesADoug JonesRTBA
The GuideKristen SchaalGKristen SchaalRKristen Schaal
JennaBeanie FeldsteinR
Jim the VampireMark HamillG
Donal LogueHimself

Additional crew and production details

TitleCrew/Detail
Composer(s)Cinematographer(s)EditorsProduction companiesDistributing companiesRunning time
What We Do in the ShadowsPlan 9D.J. Stipsen
Richard Bluck
Tom Eagles
Yana Gorskaya
Jonathan Woodford-Robinson
Unison Films
Defender Films
Funny or Die Films
New Zealand Film Commission
Resnick Interactive Development
The Orchard Films
Paramount Pictures
Madman Entertainment
1hr 25mins
Wellington ParanormalJemaine ClementD.J. StipsenTom Eagles
Shawn Paper
Angela Boyd
New Zealand Documentary BoardTelevision New Zealand6hrs
What We Do in the Shadows
(The Series)
Mark MothersbaughD.J. Stipsen
Christian Sprenger
Tom Eagles
Shawn Paper
Yana Gorskaya
Dane McMaster
Daniel Haworth
Varun Viswanath
Joseph Ettinger
Antonia de Barros
FX Productions
343 Incorporated
Two Canoes Pictures
20th Television
Disney Media Distribution
20th Century Fox Television
10hrs
We're WolvesTBATBATBATBATBATBA

Reception

Box office and financial performance

FilmBox office grossBox office rankingBudgetRef.
North AmericaOther territoriesWorldwideAll-time North AmericaAll-time worldwide
What We Do in the Shadows$3,469,224$5,012,132$8,481,356#6,798#5,750$1,600,000[14][15][16]

Critical and public response

TitleRotten TomatoesMetacritic
What We Do in the Shadows96% (186 reviews)[17]76/100 (33 reviews)[18]
Wellington Paranormal98% (39 combined total series reviews)[19]72/100 (12 reviews)[20]
What We Do in the Shadows (The Series)98% (170 combined total series reviews)[21]79/100 (41 reviews)[22]

References