Here are all of the juicy details from an action-packed Zack Snyder's Justice League, arriving on HBO Max to no small amount of fanfare. The hype over Snyder's long-awaited superhero bonanza has barely waned and already the director's next project is gearing for release. Set to premiere on Netflix May 21st, Army of the Dead follows a ragtag group of mercenaries attempting an audacious Las Vegas heist... during a zombie outbreak. Aside from the main film, Snyder already has a prequel and an anime spin-off in the pipeline, ensuring Army of the Dead's long-term franchise future.
Starring Dave Bautista, Omari Hardwick, Ella Purnell, and more, Army of the Dead promises a very different flesh-eating experience compared to Snyder's breakout Dawn of the Dead remake, and comes adorned with the striking cinematography and stylistic violence fans of the director will be expecting. A short teaser released in February highlighted the casino setting, Snyder's usual dry humor, and more zombies than you can shake a rotting croupier at, but gave away precious little about Army of the Dead's plot and characters.
The first full Army of the Dead trailer has now arrived, and offers a far more complete picture of the Sin City hell Snyder is preparing to unleash upon Netflix subscribers. Here are all of the key story details, characters and secrets lurking within.
Before The Mission
The origin of Army of the Dead's zombie outbreak will be covered by a prequel, which means the trailer opens with the apocalypse in full swing. Fortunately, it seems the undead are contained within Las Vegas, as the humble Lucky Boy diner is going about its business unaffected. The successful containment of this virus is perhaps the most unrealistic thing you'll see over the next 3 minutes.
Dave Bautista's Scott
Army of the Dead introduces Dave Bautista's rugged protagonist, Scott Ward... but not necessarily in the environment you'd expect. Rather than camouflage and a semi-automatic, Big Dave starts off wielding a hair net and a spatula, going about his daily business working at the diner. Evidently, Ward was once a highly skilled military man, carrying out the most dangerous missions, but Army of the Dead kicks off with the hero and his team enjoying peaceful retirement - not for long, of course.
Hiroyuki Sanada's Hunter
Scott is visited at his diner by Hunter Bly, played by The Last Samurai fame. Upon Hunter's arrival, Army of the Dead's premise begins to emerge. Apparently a man of influence and wealth, Hunter is offering $50 million to Ward for one last job.
Snyder's Cinematography
With the basic plot established, Army of the Dead's trailer takes the time to showcase Zack Snyder's gorgeous cinematography, with a helicopter flying over a sunset, a lonely rural road, and a run-down shack. Snyder serves as both director and cinematographer on Army of the Dead, so it's no surprise to see his trademark palette in all its dusty glory here, reminiscent of the DCEU's Knightmare.
Scott's Tragic Backstory
Fans get the merest hint of Scott's backstory, and it doesn't look to be a happy one. The Army of the Dead trailer shows Dave Bautista's character experiencing a moment with what appears to be a military medal, tears streaming down his face. Whatever significance the item may have, it's clearly a painful reminder for Scott, and possibly the reason his team disbanded in the first place. Despite the blood and guts that will inevitably ensure, Army of the Dead promises a more emotive role for Dave Bautista than many would've assumed from a zombie flick.
Blueprints
Speaking of guts, Army of the Dead finally digs into the heart of the plot, as Scott receives a set of blueprints to a big, no-nonsense safe. The language on the document appears to be written in German, so you can guarantee it's not built to be opened by unwanted hands. This safe is almost certainly the target that Hunter is sending Scott into Las Vegas for.
Ana De La Regulera's Cruz
As Scott begins his recruitment drive of old friends, he calls into a warehouse and picks up Cruz, played by Ana de la Regulera. They share a drink, and Scott offers her a place on the Las Vegas heist. Bautista's character refers to "all those people we saved," and says the team should do something for themselves for once. Like stealing bundles of cash from a zombie-infested casino. Zack Snyder has confirmed that Ward's team were part of the initial attempt to suppress the outbreak.
Omari Hardwick's Vanderohe
Next of the main cast to be revealed is Omari Hardwick as Vanderohe. Hardwick's character is relatively understated in the Army of the Dead trailer, but was afforded the starring line of the teaser released back in February - "that's heavy brother, but I dig it."
Raúl Castillo's Mikey
Soon after Vanderohe's introduction, Army of the Dead moves onto Raúl Castillo's Mikey Guzman, and the team is rapidly coming together. Castillo is perhaps best known for HBO's Looking.
Tig Notaro's Marianne
On gas-pouring duty is Tig Notaro as Marianne. The comedian's biggest acting credit thus far has been as Jett Reno on Star Trek: Discovery, but Notaro was added to the Army of the Dead cast late in the day to replace Chris D'Elia after accusations of sexual misconduct emerged. As a result, Notato's scenes were filmed via reshoots, and have been digitally inserted into the finished cut.
