Amazon Prime Video released another streaming success with director Carles Torrens' Spanish zombie film, Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End. Based on a novel by Manel Loureiro, this action-packed horror movie follows a reclusive young man trying to reunite with his family when a widespread virus turns people into violent zombies.

Led by actor Francisco Ortiz, the cast of Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End features many international acting stars, including Narcos: Mexico's Jose María Yazpik. Not every actor in this cast is a household name, but that didn't stop this thrilling new zombie film from becoming the no. 1 film on Amazon Prime Video since its premiere on October 31, 2024. With each of their characters, each actor in Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End helped introduce a rich, new world overrun with zombies, making it one of the best movies now on Amazon Prime Video.

Actor Francisco Ortiz as Manel

Date of Birth: June 10, 1986

Active since: 2011

Actor: Born in Madrid, Spain, Francisco Ortiz started out as a theater actor at 25 years old before breaking out into starring in TV productions in 2014. Ortiz first rose to prominence with his role in the long-running historical drama series El secreto de Puente Viejo. He is also well known for portraying Sancho II the Strong in Amazon Prime Video's series El Cid, as well as the titular character in Max's action comedy series García!.

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Character: Francisco Ortiz plays protagonist Manel in Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End. Having lost his wife Julia in a car accident, Manel starts off in the film as an isolated widower with only his cat to keep him company. However, when his family is threatened by the zombie uprising, Manel is forced to emerge from his depression-induced exile and brave the outside world to reunite with his loved ones.

Actor José María Yazpik as Viktor Pritchenko

Date of Birth: November 13, 1970

Active since: 1995

Actor: Born and raised in Mexico City until he was 12, José María Yazpik pursued acting and found roles in Mexican soap operas like The Dove, Song of Love, and Ángela. Since 2017, Yazpik is best known for portraying Amado Carrillo Fuentes in the third season of the hit crime series Narcos. He reprised his role as Fuentes in Narcos: Mexico, a three-season spinoff series. Yazpik has also had film roles in There Are No Saints, Marvel's 2024 superhero movie Madame Web and the comedy crime film Greedy People.

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Character: In Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, José María Yazpik plays Viktor Pritchenko, a former Ukrainian firefighting pilot fighting to survive the zombie-infested world with a crew of Russian sailors. Manel encounters Pritchenko on his journey. Though their relationship has a rocky start, Manel and Pritchenko eventually pair up to make their way through a quarantine zone in the Canary Islands.

Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End ing Cast & Characters

Berta Vázquez as Lucía: A Ukranian actress famous for her performance as La Rizos in Locked Up, Berta Vázquez has also played notable roles in Vis a Vis and Palm Trees in the Snow. Vázquez portrays the nurse Lucía in Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End.

Iria del Río as Julia: During her long-running acting career, Iria del Río has starred in films and TV shows like Visitor, Elite, The Inmortal, and Amanece. In Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, she portrays Manel's wife, Julia, whose untimely death produces much grief for Manel.

María Salgueiro as Sor Cecilia: María Salgueiro had roles in several TV shows, such as A vida por diante, Serramoura, Vis a vis, and Caronte. She portrays the nun Sor Cecilia in Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End.

Amalia Gómez as Gabriela: With a filmography that includes roles in El baile de las ánimas, León y Olvido, A vida por diante, Abrígate, and Padre Casares, Amalia Gómez plays the elderly survivor Gabriela in Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End.

Marta Poveda as Belén: Famous for her roles in TV shows like Los 80, Escenas de matrimonio, La pecera de Eva, and Mercado Central, Marta Poveda plays Malen's sister, Belén, in Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End.

Yuri Mykhaylychenko as Ushakov: So far, Yuri Mykhaylychenko has had only a handful of acting roles in projects like Finisterrae, Les, La Unidad, and Silent Cargo. In Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End, he plays Ushakov, a Russian captain who leads Pritchenko's initial team of survivors.