Army of the Dead director Zack Snyder has teased that Planet of the Dead may contain portals, time loops, and realms to other worlds. The first Army of the Dead film premiered on Netflix early in 2021 and gathered quite a following. It's prequel, Army of Thieves (which both stars and is directed by Army of the Dead star, Matthias Schweighöfer), premiered only months later, in one of the fastest turn arounds for a follow up film ever.
When the second film in the zombie-heist series premiered, many fans began to notice easter eggs that hinted at larger machinations at play, including time travel and aliens in Army of the Dead. This led many to wonder if there were any other clues in the films that may hint at plot points for future instalments. With a sequel to Snyder's film already confirmed and a burgeoning franchise blossoming out of the May 2021 blockbuster, the prolific director has teased what's in store for the next installment.
In a recent interview with Variety, Snyder was asked what he could tease about Planet of the Dead. Snyder stated that he knew exactly what he would want to see in the next film. Much of the Army films success comes from the mixing of unlikely genres, so it came as no surprise that Snyder went on to explain that he hoped the film would take on more sci-fi and action movie tropes while still containing elements of zombie horror. Snyder also mentioned that he felt quite certain that time loops, portals, and other science-fiction-like elements would play heavily into the plot. See his full quote below:
"First of all, I know exactly what I’d want to see in the sequel. We’re doing the animated series, which will come out next year. The animated series very much delves deeply into the “why” of the zombie apocalypse and where the zombies come from exactly. I think the time loops, portals, doorways to other realms, things of that nature, are very much in play. So all of those clues that Dieter gives us are very much part of how we continue to spiral out the 'Army of the Dead' universe”
With Snyder’s mention of portals and time loops in Army of the Dead 2, it is possible that he has now confirmed a fan theory about the series. Both Army of the Dead and Thieves contain mentions of time loops, although they are often played off as throw-away lines or visual gags. However, fans have speculated that perhaps they are a clue of something larger happening in the franchise that Snyder has yet to fully elaborate on.
After Snyder’s remark, it is likely that theories as to what this could mean will continue to thrive - the time loops were merely suggested as meta jokes in the film, but it's clear they were intentionally placed in Army of the Dead as part of a larger thematic structure. Perhaps these time loops and other realms will offer a way to save the character of Dieter, who seemingly died at the end Army of the Dead. Fans may be offered a glimpse into the explanation when Snyder’s planned animated series premieres in 2022. However, it is likely that for a full answer, fans will have to wait for the release of Planet of the Dead.
Source: Variety