Zack Snyder built a zombie heist film that turned into a franchise with a prequel, a cancelled sequel, and a quiet controversy — but the story behind Army of the Dead is less about the undead and more about what happens when a streaming giant shifts its strategy. By the time the credits rolled on the 2021 release, Netflix had already sketched out a universe, then quietly dismantled it.
Release year: 2021 · Director: Zack Snyder · Budget: $70-90 million · Box office (global): $150 million+ · RT critic score: 67%
Quick snapshot
- Army of the Dead released on Netflix in 2021 (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Army of Thieves is a prequel set before the outbreak (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- Budget was $70-90 million; grossed over $150 million worldwide (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Chris D’Elia was replaced by Tig Notaro after allegations (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Exact reason Netflix cancelled the sequel (The Wrap (entertainment trade news))
- Whether a third film is in development elsewhere (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
- Whether the franchise will be sold to another platform (Yahoo Entertainment (industry reporting))
- Netflix’s official reasoning for the quiet cancellation (What’s on Netflix (streaming news outlet))
- 2009: Snyder begins developing the concept (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- May 2021: Army of the Dead premieres on Netflix (Wikipedia (general reference))
- October 2021: Army of Thieves releases (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- August 2024: Reports surface that Netflix cancelled all future projects (The Wrap (entertainment trade news))
- No sequel or animated series in active development as of late 2024 (The Wrap (entertainment trade news))
- Six Flags Halloween event featuring Army of the Dead theme in 2024 (What’s on Netflix (streaming news outlet))
- No official statement from Netflix on the franchise’s future (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
Five key facts about the franchise at a glance:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Release date | May 21, 2021 |
| Director | Zack Snyder |
| Runtime | 2 hours 28 minutes |
| Production company | Netflix, The Stone Quarry |
| MPAA rating | R (for strong bloody violence, gore, language) |
| Budget | $70–90 million |
| Global box office | Over $150 million |
| Rotten Tomatoes critic score | 67% |
Is Army of the Dead a sequel to Army of Thieves?
Chronological order of the franchise
- Army of Thieves is a prequel set before the zombie outbreak, not a sequel (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- Army of the Dead is the first chronological instalment in the franchise timeline (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Army of Thieves focuses on safecracker Dieter and takes place years before the Las Vegas outbreak (Wikipedia (franchise page))
The implication: viewers who start with Army of Thieves will see a world that hasn’t yet fallen, while those who start with Army of the Dead get the outbreak first. The franchise was designed to be watched either way.
Is Army of the Dead a hit or a flop?
Box office performance
- Army of the Dead reportedly earned over $150 million worldwide against a production budget of $70–90 million (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Netflix reported it as the platform’s ninth most-watched film at the time, with approximately 75 million households (Film Stories (film industry coverage))
Critical reception
- The film holds a 67% critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Audience reception was mixed, with praise for the heist elements and criticism directed at the run time and plot logic (Wikipedia (general reference))
What this means: by traditional box-office math, the film was profitable. But for Netflix, whose metrics prioritise subscriber retention over ticket sales, the performance was strong enough to greenlight a sequel — but not strong enough to protect it from later cancellation.
Why did Netflix cancel Army of the Dead?
Cancellation of Army of the Dead 2
- The planned sequel was widely reported under the working title Planet of the Dead (What’s on Netflix (streaming news outlet))
- Reports in August 2024 indicated that Netflix had quietly cancelled future Army of the Dead projects, including the sequel film and the animated series Lost Vegas (The Wrap (entertainment trade news))
- Multiple outlets linked the shelving to Netflix’s reassessment after Rebel Moon underperformed (Yahoo Entertainment (industry reporting))
- TechRadar noted that Planet of the Dead had never been officially greenlit by Netflix (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
- No official statement from Netflix has been released regarding the cancellation reasons (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
The pattern: Netflix never formally announced the cancellation. Instead, it emerged through trade reporting, which suggests a strategic shift behind the scenes rather than a single creative disagreement.
What is the controversy with the Army of the Dead?
Actor Chris D’Elia’s removal
- Comedian Chris D’Elia was originally cast in the film but was removed after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2020 (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Tig Notaro was digitally inserted into the film to replace D’Elia’s scenes, a process that required significant visual effects work (Wikipedia (general reference))
- The re-shooting and digital insertion added cost and logistical complexity to post-production (Wikipedia (general reference))
The D’Elia replacement became one of the most talked-about aspects of the film. Tig Notaro’s performance was widely praised, but the incident highlighted the pressure studios face when off-screen behaviour forces on-screen recasting after production wraps.
Allegations and recasting
- The allegations against D’Elia were first reported in June 2020 (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Netflix and Snyder opted to digitally replace D’Elia rather than reshooting his scenes with a new actor on location (Wikipedia (general reference))
- D’Elia has denied the allegations (Wikipedia (general reference))
The trade-off: the digital replacement kept the film on schedule but added post-production costs. For Netflix, it was a pragmatic solution to a crisis that could have delayed the release.
Which should I watch first, Army of the Dead or Army of Thieves?
Recommended viewing order (release vs chronological)
- Army of the Dead released in 2021; Army of Thieves in October 2021 (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- Chronologically, Army of Thieves is set before the outbreak, making it a prequel (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- Viewing order depends on preference: release order for production context, chronological for story continuity (Wikipedia (franchise page))
Two viewing options, one pattern:
| Viewing order | Army of the Dead (2021) | Army of Thieves (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Release order | Watch first | Watch second |
| Chronological order | Watch second | Watch first |
| Story impact | Introduces the outbreak and heist | Provides backstory for Dieter |
| Production context | Original film, sets the tone | Spin-off, expands the universe |
| Recommended for | Viewers who want the main event first | Viewers who prefer origin stories |
The catch: since the franchise is now effectively frozen, the viewing order matters less than it once did. Either way, you’re watching a complete story — not a continuing series.
Netflix invested in a franchise that could be entered from either direction, yet the company’s decision to quietly cancel all future projects means the franchise is now a closed loop. Viewers get a beginning and an end, but no middle.
Upsides
- Strong visual style and Snyder’s signature action direction
- Unique heist-within-a-zombie-apocalypse premise
- Memorable characters, particularly Dieter and Vanderohe
- Available in full on Netflix with no cliffhanger
Downsides
- Long run time (2h28m) tested some viewers’ patience
- Mixed critical reception and audience reviews
- Franchise expansion cancelled, leaving no sequel
- Digital replacement of Chris D’Elia added cost controversy
Franchise timeline
- 2009: Zack Snyder begins developing Army of the Dead as a standalone zombie film (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- 2019: Netflix acquires the project and announces Snyder as director (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- May 2021: Army of the Dead premieres on Netflix and in select theatres (Wikipedia (general reference))
- October 2021: Army of Thieves, a prequel, releases on Netflix (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- 2022: Tig Notaro digitally replaces Chris D’Elia in the film (Wikipedia (general reference))
- November 2023: Zack Snyder publicly states that the television series has been cancelled (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- August 2024: Reports confirm Netflix quietly cancelled the sequel Planet of the Dead and the animated series Lost Vegas (The Wrap (entertainment trade news))
What we know for sure — and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Army of the Dead was released in 2021 (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Army of Thieves is a prequel (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- Chris D’Elia was replaced by Tig Notaro (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Budget was $70–90 million (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Grossed over $150 million worldwide (Wikipedia (general reference))
- Sequel and animated series were cancelled as of August 2024 (The Wrap (entertainment trade news))
What’s unclear
- Exact reason for the sequel cancellation (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
- Whether a third film will be developed elsewhere (Yahoo Entertainment (industry reporting))
- Whether the franchise IP will be sold to another platform (What’s on Netflix (streaming news outlet))
- Netflix’s official position on the cancellation (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
- Whether the planned crossover with Rebel Moon was ever formally greenlit (Wikipedia (franchise page))
- Whether any completed work on Planet of the Dead will ever be publicly released (TechRadar (entertainment tech coverage))
Perspectives from the key players
Zack Snyder publicly confirmed in November 2023 that the planned television series Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas had been cancelled, though he did not provide specific reasons for the decision.
— Zack Snyder, via Wikipedia (franchise page)
Deborah Snyder, producer and wife of Zack Snyder, discussed an Army of the Dead-themed experience coming to Six Flags for Halloween 2024, indicating that the franchise still had commercial life outside of film production.
— Deborah Snyder, via What’s on Netflix (streaming news outlet)
Multiple entertainment outlets characterised the cancellation of the Army of the Dead projects as a “quiet” or “quietly cancelled” decision, rather than a formal announcement from Netflix.
— What’s on Netflix (streaming news outlet)
The Army of the Dead franchise began as a bold bet on a zombie-heist hybrid and expanded into a connected universe with a prequel, an animated series, and a planned sequel. But the cancellation of Planet of the Dead and Lost Vegas leaves the story unfinished. For Netflix subscribers who enjoyed the 2021 film, the choice is clear: watch Army of the Dead and Army of Thieves back-to-back, and treat the franchise as a two-part story rather than the beginning of a saga. That reality — not a cliffhanger — is the franchise’s final legacy.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the correct order to watch the Army of the Dead franchise?
Release order: Army of the Dead (2021) then Army of Thieves (2021). Chronological order: Army of Thieves first (set before the outbreak), then Army of the Dead. Both orders work, but release order is more commonly recommended.
Is Army of the Dead worth watching?
For fans of action-horror and heist films, yes. The film has a 67% Rotten Tomatoes critic score and was Netflix’s ninth most-watched film at the time of release, with roughly 75 million households tuning in.
What happened to Chris D’Elia in Army of the Dead?
Chris D’Elia was removed from the film after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced in 2020. Tig Notaro was digitally inserted into his scenes using visual effects.
Will there be a third Army of the Dead movie?
As of August 2024, Netflix has quietly cancelled all future Army of the Dead projects, including the planned sequel Planet of the Dead and the animated series Lost Vegas.
Who plays Dieter in Army of the Dead?
Dieter is played by Matthias Schweighöfer, who also directed Army of Thieves. The character is a safecracker who appears in both films.
Is Army of Thieves a direct prequel?
Yes, Army of Thieves is a direct prequel set before the zombie outbreak in Las Vegas. It focuses on Dieter’s backstory and his recruitment for a series of heists.
How much did Army of the Dead cost to make?
The production budget was estimated at $70–90 million. The film grossed over $150 million worldwide, making it a profitable venture for Netflix by traditional box-office metrics.
Related reading: Army of the Dead franchise on Wikipedia · What’s on Netflix cancellation report · The Wrap on Netflix’s quiet cancellation · TechRadar on Planet of the Dead status