Madison (Zoey Deutch) is a newcomer in Zombieland 2, better known as Zombieland: Double Tap, and far from being an unnecessary addition, Madison is such a delight, that she could probably use her own spinoff. The ultra-funny and ultra-violent Zombieland franchise was a bit of a surprise when it first came out in 2009. Original IP, a hilarious and fresh take on an overstuffed genre, and featuring an all-star quartet of Emma Stone, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and Abigail Breslin, Zombieland became an instant classic. The franchise was ᴀssumed done, but in 2019, like the unᴅᴇᴀᴅ it features, it rose from the grave.

Zombieland 2 upped the ante by introducing new zombies, a larger world, and even more characters. Though some were apprehensive about returning to a series that felt so wonderfully small and simple, Zombieland 2 proved to be an excellent addition to the franchise. Just as funny as the first, with perhaps just a few less surprises, Zombieland 2 keeps the fun going in a way other horror sequels often fail to. The success of Zombieland 2 can’t be explained without also talking about Zoey Deutch as Madison, who basically steals the show.

Madison Is A New Survivor In Zombieland: Double Tap

Columbus Strikes Up A Romance With Madison

Madison appears early in Zombieland: Double Tap, which takes place ten years after the original film. After Columbus’ (Eisenberg) proposal to Wichita (Stone) goes wrong, she and her sister, Little Rock (Breslin), leave. Columbus and Tallahᴀssee (Harrelson) putter around for a month drowning their sorrows and boredom by killing zombies and sacking strip malls. In one mall, they stumble across another survivor, Madison, named for the Wisconsin town. A bouncy blonde with a pink jumpsuit, Madison has survived all alone, hiding in a Pinkberry.

Short on tact, awareness, and possibly intelligence, Columbus is still smitten and sees in Madison a chance to heal the wounds from Wichita. Tallahᴀssee is a bit more blunt and is quick to guess why Columbus would be interested in the bubbly Madison. She joins the duo and she and Columbus grow closer, and eventually consummate their relationship in a White House bedroom. When Wichita returns to tell them Little Rock ran off, she and Madison immediately ʙuтт heads. A narrow escape from zombies leads to Madison getting infected, and Wichita is quick to bring out the sH๏τgun.

Columbus, ever the gentleman, brings the turning Madison out into the woods, and seemingly takes her out. However, it turns out Columbus couldn’t bring himself to do it, and it’s a good thing too, because she was just having an allergic reaction after eating a nut. There are no hard feelings with the sweet Madison, however, and she helps the heroes against the rest of the zombies. Then she makes up with Wichita and Columbus, and rides off with a hippie named Berkley, probably to go on and live longer than any other person in the franchise.

Madison Flips The Dumb Blonde Stereotype On Its Head

Madison Is A Self-Possessed Character

Madison wears all pink all the time, can’t remember nor pronounce names correctly, constantly twirls her perfectly done blonde hair, and speaks with a Valley Girl accent so thick, one might ᴀssume she walked off the set of the SNL “Californians” sketch. She is almost the perfect “dumb blonde” character, a stereotypical and lazy archetype. However, the Zombieland franchise is anything but lazy, and Madison is not some poorly written character just used for laughs, though Zoey Deutch does provide many of the laugh lines in Zombieland 2.

From the moment she’s introduced, it’s clear there’s a lot more to Madison than meets the eye. For one, she’s lasted on her own for a decade. She clearly has a great survival instinct to make it that far. As she says, “I’m really good at surviving. I’m literally alive.” Fair point, all things considered. Then, when she begins going into her goofy, sorority, love-struck routine with Columbus, Tallahᴀssee immediately rolls his eyes and openly mocks her.

In a second, her cheery smile drops into a scowl, and she walks up to the gun-toting Tallahᴀssee and tells him she doesn’t appreciate his condescension in a few choice words. Properly castigated, Tallahᴀssee has a newfound respect and apologizes. Madison reverts to her normal bubbly personality. Back in the White House, when she tries to sleep with Columbus, putting on a Sєxy, girly voice, Columbus demures. Madison once again drops the act, angrily telling Columbus she needs this after being alone for so long, and it’s either him or the old man.

Madison does not care what other people think about her, and anyone who wants to taunt or underestimate her quickly learns that she’s more than capable, and perfectly willing to do what it takes to get what she wants. She’s a goofy, charming, daffy girl, and she’s not changing for anyone. They can either learn to live with her or be on their way.

Zoey Deutch Wants A Madison Spinoff

Madison’s Journey Is Just Beginning

Fans aren’t the only ones who enjoyed Madison. Zoey Deutch herself must have had a fun time playing the character because she’s interested in returning to the role. She said (via THR),

“I would love to put the ‘Von Deutch’ attire back on, for lack of a better pun. That experience was so fun, and I’ve been begging Ruben [Fleischer] to put me in a movie of his again. But yeah, I would love to play Madison again. She’s such a character.”

Reference to her character’s Von Dutch clothing aside, returning as Madison is clearly something Deutch would be up for. Her character does survive the end of the film after all, driving off with a guy named Berkley to who knows what crazy adventures. Someone who has spent as much time alone in a zombie apocalypse as Madison must have some interesting stories, and also must have seen some wild things.

Following the always-chipper Madison through a world filled with flesh-eating zombies could be a hilarious journey. She really doesn’t seem to get phased by too much, so a spinoff of Zombieland 2 featuring her could find her having to face a challenge that even the positive Madison has to feel negative about. She seems like a California college girl, perhaps Zombieland 3 can take place on a college campus/fortress where the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ stalk the grounds outside, and mean cliques stalk the halls inside. It’s Day of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ meets Animal House: Zombieland 3: Night of the Living Sorority​​​​​.