Army of the Dead director Zack Snyder has stated that a sequel to the 2021 zombie movie is on hold while he works on his upcoming sci-fi franchise, Rebel Moon.
Speaking with The Nerd Queens (via Bloody Disgusting), Snyder stated, "As far as the Army Universe goes, it's still alive and well in my mind. I know exactly what I would do." However, the director admitted that development on Planet of the Dead, the current title for the film's sequel, was on pause while he finished his next movie Rebel Moon, which could be the start of a new franchise for Netflix. "It really depends on how we try to figure out how we go forward with Rebel Moon and the Rebel Moon Universe. It's not a small-time commitment," he explained. "A sci-fi thing at this scale does require a lot of attention to make it all make sense."
Released on Netflix in May 2021, Army of the Dead follows a group of mercenaries who plan a Las Vegas casino heist amid a zombie apocalypse. Guardians of the Galaxy's Dave Bautista headlines the film's ensemble cast of Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Tig Notaro and Raúl Castillo, among others. The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the humor but criticized the plot and runtime. However, the film found success among Netflix subscribers, becoming the streamer's eighth most-watched original film at the time. Army of Thieves, a spinoff prequel starring Schweighöfer's Dieter, was released in October 2021. Schweighöfer is also expected to return for Planet of the Dead, as is his Thieves co-star, Nathalie Emmanuel.
Rebel Moon Is Zack Snyder's Star Wars
Announced in 2021, Rebel Moon focuses on a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy threatened by the armies of a tyrannical regent named Balisarius. Sofia Boutella stars in the upcoming sci-fi epic as Kora, a young woman with a mysterious past who the colony dispatches to seek out warriors from nearby planets to help them challenge Balisarius. Rebel Moon was initially conceived as a pitch for a potential Star Wars film but was redeveloped as an original franchise following Disney's acquisition of Star Wars owner Lucasfilm. A sequel, Rebel Moon Part 2, was shot back-to-back with Rebel Moon. Snyder recently announced that a Rebel Moon video game is also in development.
Snyder Announces Full Circle Event
While Snyder focuses on his original Netflix franchises, the fan-favorite director hasn't completely closed the door on his time playing in the DC Universe. Snyder is set to host an event in late April called Full Circle that will feature screenings of Snyder's directed DC films -- Man of Steel (2013), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021). All proceeds from the upcoming event will go towards mental health awareness and suicide prevention. In addition to the film screenings, the event -- set for April 28-30 -- will include panel discussions and merchandise.
Army of the Dead is currently streaming on Netflix, with Rebel Moon expected to release on the streaming service on Dec. 22, 2023.
Source: The Nerd Queens, via Bloody Disgusting