New Show on SyFy features Wausau

Wausau Goes Primetime: “Revival” on Syfy Brings Our Hometown to Life (and Back Again)

As a lifelong fan of spooky small-town thrillers and supernatural slow burns, let me tell you—I was beyond excited to learn that the new Syfy series Revival is set right here in Wausau, Wisconsin. Even better? You’ll actually see shots of our own town—real exterior scenes filmed in Wausau—woven throughout the series. It’s not just inspired by Wausau. It looks like Wausau.

The show premieres Thursday, June 12 at 9 PM Central on Syfy, and trust me, I’ve already set the DVR.

What is “Revival” all about?

Adapted from the hit Image Comics series by Tim Seeley—a Wausau native, no less—Revival is a genre-bending mystery that starts with an unforgettable event: in the span of one day, everyone who died in the last two weeks comes back to life.

But this isn’t a zombie show. The “revivers” return just like they were—same memories, same personalities (mostly). That eerie normalcy is where the tension lives. What’s really going on in this tight-knit, rural town? And why Wausau?

As the series unfolds, we follow Dana Cypress, a sheriff’s deputy (played by Melanie Scrofano, of Wynonna Earp fame), as she investigates bizarre happenings under a government-imposed quarantine. Her family drama, the townspeople’s secrets, and the chilling reality of revival unfold into a mystery unlike anything else on TV.

A Wausau backdrop—literally

While most of the series was filmed in New Brunswick, Canada, the producers knew they couldn’t fake everything. That’s why I was thrilled to learn that they included actual outside footage from Wausau. Our streets. Our landscapes. Our essence.

As a resident, there’s something powerful about seeing your real hometown on screen—not as a stand-in for somewhere else, but as itself. We’re not pretending to be Maine or Montana. We’re Wausau, and we’re part of the story.

Whether it’s a drone shot over the Wisconsin River, a fleeting view of our skyline, or glimpses of familiar buildings, those details matter. They ground the story in a place we know—and now, the world will know it too.

Where and when to watch

• Debuts: Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 10 PM ET / 9 PM CT

• Channel: Syfy

• Streaming: Available on Peacock starting June 19 (1-week delay)

  • Peacock Premium starts at $7.99/month

  • Peacock Premium Plus (ad-free) is $13.99/month

Why this matters for Wausau

Look, we all know how special this place is—but having it featured in a nationally broadcast television show is next-level. It’s a testament to our community’s atmosphere, our visual identity, and our storytelling potential. The fact that Revival comes from one of our own—Tim Seeley—and chose to center its world here says a lot about the magic that lives in the Northwoods.

We’re not just Wisconsin’s Basecamp for outdoor adventure—we’re becoming a basecamp for mystery, mythology, and media too.

So grab a bowl of popcorn, dim the lights, and get ready to see Wausau as you’ve never seen it before: strange, suspenseful, and full of secrets.

I'll be watching—and I hope you will too. #WausauRevives

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