When Zack Snyder unveiled "Army of the Dead" in 2021, it burst forth with the force of a full-blown explosion. With high-octane action along with zombie mayhem and all the visual flair typical of Snyder, the film heralded an event genre fans worldwide had been waiting for. Its Netflix bow seemingly heralded an expansive universe, with rumors of potential sequels, prequels, and even an animated spin-off.
And yet, years later, murmurs of "Army of the Dead 2" have faded. So, for what reason could this sequel never see your screen? Let us dive into some possible reasons.
A Shifting Slate of Priorities
Snyder's schedule and many commitments may be one of the primary reasons we are unlikely to see "Army of the Dead 2" anytime soon. Since its release, Snyder has taken up several big projects. Take, for instance, the upcoming "Rebel Moon," which many have positioned as Snyder's very own "Star Wars" a huge, sprawling space opera that has been taking up much of the filmmaker's time and energy.
With Snyder churning out his creative juices into building this new universe, it came as little shock that the chances for a return to the zombie-ridden Las Vegas have dwindled.
More so, Netflix has been more interested in "Army of the Dead" building up into a varied franchise rather than anything to do with a direct sequel. Prequels, such as "Army of Thieves," were more about heist-style adventures with less central presence of zombies. And although spin-offs are still possible, building from the core storyline seems less of an interest to the studio.
The Challenges of Sustaining a Franchise
Another very key reason we should not be expecting "Army of the Dead 2" is the inherent problem that rests with the momentum of a film universe balanced between heist and zombie genres. The original film carefully walked the balance between a conventional action film and a survival horror-type narrative.
This expands into a much greater universe than just adding a few extra zombie types or different cities. It is a balancing act that requires an extremely consistent blending of creativity, storytelling, and action elements Snyder did manage to pull off the first time around, but which may not hold quite the same magic when repeated.
Not to mention, of course, the fact that "Army of the Dead" didn't exactly get the best public reception in the world. While positive, it was far from unanimous acclaim. A fair number of the audience felt that the story was somewhat derivative, or that it lacked the narrative punch of Snyder's other work.
Perhaps this is what made Netflix revisit its strategy, especially given how many other genres they could delve into as a deep dive into true crime documentaries or even gambling info, such as those on casino .us. The danger of a forced sequel into a franchise that perhaps will no longer be that hot is a significant risk that Netflix may want to avoid.
Creative Overlaps and Fatigue
Another big factor is the creative overlap between Snyder's different projects. Because "Rebel Moon" already seems to feature many of the same spectacle and heavy visual effects that mark his projects, that may just be Snyder flexing that creative muscle in a new, untested direction rather than doubling down on his zombie universe.
That creative fatigue in developing similar types of cinematic universes could be part of the problem. Snyder has never been one to shy away from the thrill of new projects, whether said project is diving into the world of DC superheroes or building a whole new world of samurai in space.
And with recent comments about continuing to develop his Justice League universe from Snyder himself, it becomes clear that his commitments to such projects are anything but superficial.
A director who makes a career on risks taken probably is less invested in rehashing old material for the new than in radically new ideas, save when a legitimate reason presents itself. Barring huge fan interest or a studio anxious to move forward, Snyder may simply feel that "Army of the Dead 2" isn't where his energies are best spent.
Spin-Off Over Sequel
Not that "Army of the Dead" didn't find its enthusiastic audience, but the more apparent Netflix's strategy becomes, the more one gets an idea that what they want is a spin-off. With the prequel film "Army of Thieves" and the animated series "Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas", it does feel like more of a trend toward fleshing out different corners of Snyder's universe, rather than continuing the story from the original.
Netflix might have far more value in ancillary characters to round them out and explore other parts of the story, rather than continuing the core Season 1 narrative. In that way, it is less of a gamble because it means some shows can discuss and focus on what audiences liked-whether it was about the heist or weirdo supporting characters, or about the wider mythology in question. This would spare viewers from the same repetitive zombie apocalypse and maybe even introduce them to other formats of content, which would further reduce the urgency for a sequel.
The Future of Streaming and Movie Franchises
Another factor at play: is the bigger industrywide context. The world of streaming has changed tectonically over the last few years. While Netflix was once the undisputed king of the game, it's now just one player in what is shaping up to be an increasingly crowded field. Disney+, HBO Max, Amazon Prime, and many more all are elbowing their way in, trying to take a dominant share of viewership. This shift has led Netflix to be more choosy in its investments-particularly in large franchises.
It does feel more in line with the company's strategy of broad universes containing interconnected, standalone narratives, as opposed to direct sequels, for diversifying risk and opening themselves up to capturing different types of viewers under the same umbrella. Direct sequels, like "Army of the Dead 2," may be less of a fit for that model, absent any real indication it moves the needle either in subscription numbers or viewer engagement.
The shifting economics in the streaming business have subscription models tested; Netflix seems to be thinking a lot about where to park its dollars. Projects like "Rebel Moon" are seen as better capturing a broader, possibly more engaged audience. While "Army of the Dead" is popular, it may have been deemed that a sequel wouldn't have been lucrative enough, further explaining why it's not going ahead.
Are We Missing Out?
To fans eager to go back into Snyder's zombie-infested world, this might sound like disappointing news. In truth, there are moments where, for certain stories, it is better to just leave well enough alone than to forge on and on with absolutely nothing new to say.
It's clear that with "Army of the Dead," Snyder put his all into taking viewers through exciting encounters with zombie tigers and heart-pumping heist scenes through an apocalyptic Vegas. Maybe that experience, wrapped up within one film and a few complementary spinoffs, is all this franchise will ever need.
Besides, the content landscape is more extensive than ever. With such a multitude of options available to both Snyder and Netflix, it would be perhaps more enriching for the creators and the audience alike to focus on newer, fresher projects. "Army of the Dead" managed to find its place in pop culture, but rather than making it into a formula, that energy can be spent better to inspire similar but new stories in all kinds of media formats.
Conclusion
In many ways, it speaks to a greater trend within Hollywood and streaming: the move away from direct sequels and into expansive universes. The talents of Zack Snyder are presently utilized for far grander visions, such as "Rebel Moon," while Netflix is irksomely silent on this perhaps more consumed by its changing strategies in light of industry challenges.
Although that would be a bit of a disappointment to the fans, seeing the ending of a story so shortly, another form of satisfaction is the growth of Snyder's universe through its spin-offs, building lore in a manner that would keep the experience fresh and exciting.
Perhaps that's exactly what we need: a universe of possibilities, not one that is confined to inevitable sequels. With Zack Snyder, after all, one thing is certain: this is a man who loves surprises, and the future of his film universes will be full of bursting with them.
