Zack Snyder Expanding Army of the Dead with Film Prequel and Anime Series at Netflix

Director Zack Snyder, who's currently working on his "Snyder Cut" of Justice League for HBO Max, is now spawning a film prequel and anime series for Netflix to expand the world establish in his upcoming zombie heist flick. Army of the Dead, featuring an international cast that includes Dave Bautista, Theo Rossi, Ella Purnell, Huma Qureshi, Ana de la Reguera, Omari Hardwick, Garret Dillahunt, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Raúl Castillo, Samantha Win and Tig Notaro follows a group of mercenaries as they venture into zombie-infested Las Vegas to pull off the greatest heist ever. Matthias Schweighöfer plays a character named Ludwig Dieter, who will be the focus of the prequel movie. Schweighöfer will also direct and star in the prequel movie, which Zack Snyder will help produce with wife Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller through their production company "The Stone Quarry".

The anime series will be titled Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas which will feature an origin story for Bautista's Scott and his rescue crew as they confront the mysterious source of the zombie outbreak during the initial fall of Las Vegas. Bautista and fellow Army of the Dead actors Ana de la Reguera, Tig Notaro, Omari Hardwick, and Ella Purnell will reprise their roles.

Jay Oliva of Batman: The Dark Knight Returns will be the showrunner of the anime series and will also direct two episodes. Zack Snyder will also direct two episodes, as well as join the executive producers team with Deborah Snyder and Wesley Coller.

Zack Snyder said, "I’m incredibly excited for the opportunity to partner with Netflix again as we expand the 'Army of the Dead' universe with both an international prequel, as well as exploring the visually dynamic world of animation. It’s been a great collaboration and we are thrilled that Netflix sees this as big of an IP as we do."

Shay Hatten, one of the writers who developed the screenplay for Army of the Dead, will pen both the new projects.