Zack Snyder's upcoming zombie heist Army of the Dead has a poster that perfectly captures the unique premise of the film. The Netflix feature sees a band of mercenaries stage a heist of a Las Vegas casino in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. Snyder has promised absolute zombie mayhem complemented by the action and heart of a band of comrades-in-arms doing the only thing they know how to during the end of the world. Snyder has said that the film blends the genres of zombie horror and action heist to deliver something entirely unique and exceptionally exciting.
Fans of Snyder's superhero work, including his much-publicized director's cut of Justice League, will be intrigued to learn that Snyder got his wings directing horror, specifically the 2004 remake of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead. Army of the Dead is a return to form, informed by the lofty and exciting action of the superhero genre. The film sat in development hell for a while until Netflix decided to take a chance on it. Most notable among the cast is former wrestler Dave Bautista, who is best known for playing Drax in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. Snyder and Bautista together seem like a recipe for success, though the production has not been without trouble. Disgraced comedian Chris D'Elia was replaced by Tig Notaro through a combination of reshoots and digital composition when sexual misconduct allegations against him came out.
Snyder shared a poster for Army of the Dead via Twitter that communicates all you'd need to know about the film. Zombies' hands are splayed out behind a casino vault with blood dripping down the metal. A single fluorescent light gives the room a dismal, creepy look. A sack of cash sits before the vault with playing cards, chips, dice, and $100 bills floating in the air. The film's tagline reads: Survivors take all. The poster is accompanied by a Tweet announcing the film's May 21 release on Netflix and promising a teaser on February 25. See it for yourself below:
Army of the Dead is bursting with undeniably exciting concepts. Zombies, casinos, and nonstop action are responsible for many of the most gratifying stories brought to the silver screen. Snyder said that the film is full of fun, but not making fun in and of itself – this is the apocalypse, after all. It's certainly a striking and effective movie poster. The choice to focus on the zombies and feature no human characters emphasizes the horror elements and Snyder's own dedication to creating a unique zombie flick. The zombies in the film are achieved through 90% practical effects, just like the good old days of Romero, and in opposition to most computer-generated fare that we see nowadays.
Snyder seems to see the film as a passion project, bringing what he's learned from the DCEU to a genre close to his heart. Army of the Dead is based on a story by Snyder and he serves as both director and cinematographer on the feature in a highly unusual decision. Snyder has a lot planned for the universe of the film. Netflix is also set to release Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, a four-hour animated prequel series that will explore the origins of the zombies from Area 51. It seems an entire zombie franchise is itching to invade our brains.
Source: Zack Snyder