Netflix has unveiled the first full trailer for Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead, and footage incorporated a fitting song choice. Releasing on the heels of Zack Snyder's Justice League, Army of the Dead is also forgoing a traditional theater release to debut through Netflix. The streaming giant is certainly ecstatic to have a big-budget project on the horizon, and Snyder's team isn't holding back when it comes to the marketing materials, which of course, features notable tunes.
In development since 2007, Army of the Dead was stuck in limbo for over a decade until Netflix and Snyder got on board with Las Vegas-set zombie film. The director has proved he is highly capable of tackling the zombie subgenre after the success of his directorial debut, Dawn of the Dead. With a cast headlined by Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, and Theo Rossi, Army of the Dead filmed in the second half of 2019. Less than two years later, the first teaser was released, presenting the first look at a zombie-infested Sin City as an eerie version of Judy Garland's "Lucky Day" played.
Army of the Dead's first full-length trailer gives a better indication of the plot, which is set to follow a special group of mercenaries led by Bautista's Scott Ward. The strongman enlists a team after agreeing to carry out a special heist, which involves locating a vault full of cash in a Las Vegas casino. The problem? The once bumbling city is now barricaded as a quarantine zone due to being overrun by flesh-eating zombies. Equipped with an intimidating arsenal of guns and other weapons, the group puts their lives on the line for the ultimate casino heist. Playing over the Army of the Dead trailer is Kenny Rogers' country music song, "The Gambler," which couldn't be more perfect considering the circumstances of the movie.
Like the case with Judy Garland's "Lucky Day," Rogers' 1978 song plays directly into the theme of Las Vegas' biggest draw: gambling. The song itself has been recorded by several artists, including Johnny Cash, but Rogers was the one who made it a major hit. While "The Gambler" is a fitting choice for a movie set around a dangerous casino heist, the lyrics actually mention the "secret to survivin'" while also including a line that states, "the best you can hope for is to die in your sleep." The mercenaries are venturing into a city known for casinos, but they are essentially gambling with their lives by being there.
With an easy listening country song like Rogers' '70s hit, it's almost as if Snyder is showcasing the calm before the storm. The voice of the singer is almost haunting as the vibrant city of Las Vegas is now ravished by zombies. It's unclear how much Army of the Dead will rely on music within the movie. Based on the trailer songs, the Netflix zombie film is celebrating musical artists with ties to memorable Sin City performances. The late Kenny Rogers even purchased a home in Las Vegas after spending decades performing within the city. Based on his connection to the Entertainment Captial of the World, it wouldn't be surprising if his work is heard throughout Snyder's new film.
