Army of the Dead

***Army of the Dead*** is an American film directed by Zack Snyder, from a screenplay by Snyder, Shay Hatten, and Joby Harold and a story by Snyder and Harold. The film premiered in select theaters on May 14 for one week leading into its Netflix release on May 21, 2021. *Army of the Dead* is the first in the Armyverse franchise, which is original The Stone Quarry intellectual property.

## Synopsis

> After a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries takes the ultimate gamble by venturing into the quarantine zone for the greatest heist ever.
>
> -Netflix

## Production

### Development

On June 4, 2008, it was announced that Universal Studios and Warner Bros. Entertainment were on-board to co-produce the project. Matthijs van Heijningen Jr. signed on to serve as director. On January 29, 2019, Netflix acquired the distribution rights to the project from Warner Bros., with Zack Snyder returning as director and producer. The Zack Snyder also serves as co-screenwriter with Shay Hatten. The film is based on a story that comes from Snyder and Joby Harold.

### Casting

On April 5, 2019 it was announced that Dave Bautista had been cast. On May 28, 2019, it was announced Ella Purnell, Ana De La Reguera, Theo Rossi and Huma Qureshi joined the cast. On July 15, 2019, it was reported that Garret Dillahunt, Raúl Castillo, Omari Hardwick, Chris D'Elia, Nora Arnezeder, Matthias Schweighöfer, Hiroyuki Sanada, Samantha Win and Richard Cetrone. On August 14, 2020, Tig Notaro was announced to replace D'Elia, who who was cut from the film following sexual misconduct accusations made against him.

### Filming

The film entered principal photography in mid-2019, with a reported budget of up to $90 million according to some sources. The movie began production on Monday, July 15, 2019, in Albuquerque and headed to New Jersey to shoot on location in a casino in Atlantic City.

## Cast

Dave Bautista
as
Scott WardElla Purnell
as
Kate WardAna De La Reguera
as
Maria CruzTheo Rossi
as
Burt CummingsHuma Qureshi
as
GeetaGarret Dillahunt
as
MartinRaúl Castillo
as
Mikey GuzmanOmari Hardwick
as
VanderoheTig Notaro
as
Marianne PetersNora Arnezeder
as
LillyMatthias Schweighöfer
as
Ludwig DieterHiroyuki Sanada
as
Bly TanakaSamantha Win
as
ChambersRichard Cetrone
as
Zeus
**Full credits**
## Crew

Zack Snyder
Director
Producer
Story by
Screenplay by
Director of photographyDeborah Snyder
ProducerWesley Coller
ProducerShay Hatten
Screenplay byJoby Harold
Screenplay byTom Holkenborg
Music byDody Dorn
EditorJulie Berghoff
Production designerMarcus Taormina
Visual effects supervisorJustin Raleigh
Special effects makeup designerStephanie Portnoy Porter
Costume designerJay Oliva
Storyboard artistClay Staub
Illustrator
**Full credits**
## Studios

The Stone Quarry
ProductionFractured FX Inc.
Makeup & prosthetics
AnimatronicsAtlantic West Effects
Makeup & prosthetics (zombie horse)RED Digital Cinema
Camera developmentZERØ OPTIK
Custom lens housingNetflix
Distribution
## Trivia

* This movie marks director Zack Snyder's return to the zombie genre, where he made his debut with 2004's *Dawn of the Dead*. *Army of the Dead* references the events of *Dawn of the Dead* through a news report that seems to describe them (though the two stories aren't canonically compatible).
* *Army of the Dead* was released theatrically on May 14, 2021, where it played for one week prior to its Netflix release. It ran in 200 Cinemark locations, 600 theaters in total only for that one week, making it the first Netflix film to score a wide release at a major theater chain.
* The film was the first to win the new Academy Awards category added for the 2021 awards - the Oscars Fan Favorite.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mike Fleming Jr. "Dave Bautista To Star In Zack Snyder-Directed 'Army Of The Dead'". *Deadline*. Archived from the original on April 5, 2019. Retrieved on April 5, 2019.
2. ↑ Peter Sciretta. "Matthijs van Heijningen to direct Zack Snyder's *Army of the Dead*". *Slash Film*. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved on June 4, 2008. “Commercial filmmaker and visual artist Matthijs van Heijningen will make his directorial debut on the Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead.”
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Borys Kit. "Zack Snyder Returning to Movies With Zombie Action Pic *Army of the Dead* (Exclusive)". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved on January 29, 2019. “Netflix, which is taking over the project from Warner Bros., where it was first set up in 2007, is going full throttle with *Army*.”
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mia Galuppo. "Zack Snyder's *Army of the Dead* Rounds Out Cast With Omari Hardwick, Chris D'Elia". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved on July 15, 2019.
5. ↑ Anthony D'Alessandro. "Zack Snyder Zombie Movie 'Army Of The Dead' Will Undergo Reshoots As Tig Notaro Replaces Chris D'Elia". *Deadline*. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved on August 14, 2020.
6. ↑ Etan Vlessing. "More Streaming Titles Headed to Theaters After 'Army Of The Dead' Cinema Run, Says Cinemark CFO". *The Hollywood Reporter*. Archived from the original on June 15, 2021. Retrieved on June 15, 2021. “*Army of the Dead* played on cinema screens for seven days from May 14, ahead of a Netflix release on May 21.”