Director Zack Snyder explains replacing Chris D'Elia with Tig Notaro in his upcoming Army of the Dead movie. Snyder spent most of 2020 in the spotlight due to his upcoming cut of Justice League, which releases on HBO Max in March. However, he's also focused on Army of the Dead, which is set to debut on Netflix at some point this year. An alternate take on the standard zombie movie, it will follow a group of mercenaries as they plan a heist at a casino in the midst of an outbreak. Army of the Dead will also receive a prequel film and an anime TV show, essentially turning it into a full fledged franchise.
Army of the Dead features an ensemble cast made up of Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Garret Dillahunt, Raul Castillo, and more. D'Elia was also among those hired for the movie and completed filming on it. However, in June 2020, numerous women accused the comedian of sexual misconduct, and he was let go from the project. Notaro was announced as his replacement in August. At the time, it was also revealed she would shoot her scenes in front of a green screen alongside an acting partner, due to pandemic restrictions.
In an interview with EW, Snyder discussed hiring Notaro to replace D'Elia in Army of the Dead, calling it "the right thing to do." He went on to explain, "It was the best thing to do not just for the property but for respecting humanity and people and decency. In the end, it was a pretty easy choice." Notaro also talked about landing the part saying, "I did start to think, 'Wow, I'm starring in a movie!' Because it seemed like I was the focal point of everything."
Snyder's reasoning for replacing D'Elia makes complete sense, considering the disturbing accusations against him. It's also far from the only consequence the comedian has faced due to his actions. D'Elia's agency dropped him, and several former co-stars came out to condemn his behavior. Snyder and the rest of the Army of the Dead team are very much in the majority with their decision to fire him from the film.
Notaro is also an inspired choice to replace him. She's one of Hollywood's most beloved comedians and has shown her range in shows like One Mississippi and Star Trek: Discovery. It's exciting to think of her collaborating with Snyder on such an inventive film. The director also makes a good point about the recast being good for the Army of the Dead property. Since related projects are already on the way, it stands to reason a sequel could happen at some point. It's far better to have Notaro on board now rather than having to switch actors for a potential second film. Hopefully, Notaro's role is a hit when Army of the Dead releases this year.
Source: EW