Army of the Dead star, Ana de la Reguera, has praised Zack Snyder’s dedication to his fans in a Screen Rant exclusive interview. The director’s upcoming zombie heist movie stars Reguera alongside Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Hiroyuki Sanada, Theo Rossi, Raúl Castillo, Matthias Schweighöfer, Tig Notaro, Nora Arnezeder, Samantha Win, Garret Dillahunt, and Huma Qureshi. Army of the Dead is scheduled for a limited theatrical release on May 14, followed by a Netflix streaming release on May 21.
Though he’s been known best in recent years for his dark and gritty comic book adaptations like Watchmen and Justice League, Snyder’s Hollywood stardom began when he directed a remake of George A. Romero’s classic horror film, Dawn of the Dead in 2004. That remake earned notable praise from critics and fans of the genre, leading to Snyder’s work on bigger-budget projects like 300. Army of the Dead is his first time returning to the world of zombies since Dawn of the Dead, though the two films have no direct narrative connection.
No matter what kind of film he’s making, Snyder’s always been known for the dedicated fan base that follows him from one project to the next – a fan base the director engages with actively at conventions and on digital platforms like Vero. In a Screen Rant exclusive interview, Army of the Dead star, Ana de la Reguera, praised Snyder for his enthusiasm and the relationship he’s built with his fans. “He is just like a kid enjoying his work,” Reguera said. “And there's nothing nicer than seeing someone that loves what he does.” She then commented on what a unique filmmaker Snyder is, addressing the fans directly:
[EXCLUSIVE] He does also think about the fans a lot. You guys are the core of what [he does]. I couldn't believe it when I was looking at the trailer. I was looking at the comments on YouTube channels, what they say about it, and you guys just look into every single detail. You don't take anything for granted, and he doesn't either.
I think it's kind of like a collaboration between you guys. That's what I felt. And I've never been in this situation, where the fans adore this filmmaker so much. I think he knows it, and he feeds this, and he just wants you guys to be happy. I don't know; it's very interesting to watch.
Snyder’s fans are a huge reason, if not the main reason, why the director’s cut of Justice League finally saw the light of day on HBO Max earlier this year. Supporters of his DCEU campaigned for years to see the original intended product, which finally released to generally positive reviews. The release is an unprecedented display of fan influence on a major blockbuster, and it’s a testament to the relationship Snyder has built with his viewers.
After so many years knee-deep in the DCEU, it should be exciting to see Snyder trying a different genre on in Army of the Dead. Early reviews for the film have been somewhat mixed, but overall they praise its flashy style and fun twists on traditional zombie stories. Army of the Dead currently holds a 77 percent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
