Bill Murray comes back in ‘ Zombieland 2’

Wait a minute here. We’re pretty sure Bill Murray died a tragic and frankly Oscar- worthy death in 2009’ s “Zombieland.”

So how did Murray just show up in the upcoming sequel “Zombieland: Double Tap” ( in theaters Oct. 18)? He looks very alive, a decade later, in the red band trailer released Monday.

“Given that Bill Murray was probably everyone’s favorite part of the first movie, we always wanted to have another cameo,” says Ruben Fleischer, who directed both zombie comedies. “In classic Hollywood tradition, we figured out a way to reverse engineer Bill Murray into the movie.”

The original appearance was a Murray masterclass, as the four zombie apocalypse survivors – Tallahassee ( Woody Harrelson), Columbus ( Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita ( Emma Stone) and Little Rock ( Abigail Breslin) – were thrilled to see that the star had managed to survive holed up in his mansion. Bill Murray even donned his “Ghostbusters” outfit to re- create a scene to break the zombie- survival monotony.

It all ended in pathos as Murray played a practical joke, dressing like a zombie to scare Columbus, who promptly blasted him with a shotgun.

“Oh, my God, oh, my God. I cannot believe I shot Bill Murray,” said Columbus, as Murray mumbled, “My bad. I was never very good at practical jokes.” He had enough time to utter his one regret, making 2004’ s “Garfield,” before passing. His body was tossed over the balcony. Definitely dead.

The academy overlooked the performance, but Murray did win a 2010 Scream Award for playing Bill Murray.

The sequel takes place 10 years into the zombie mayhem. But the “Zombieland 2” filmmakers still found a way in with Murray, who’s interviewed by Al Roker in the scene.

“We went back to the day the zombie apocalypse happened in 2009 and that where’s we find Bill Murray,” says Fleischer. “He’s at a junket promoting ‘ Garfield 3.’ “

CHRIS PIZZELLO/ AP Bill Murray shows off the “Ghostbusters” outfit he rocked in “Zombieland” before his own tragic end.