Following the success of Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead on the Netflix streaming service, a sequel has been announced immediately and is already in pre-production stages.

When can fans expect the follow-up to the hit Netflix zombie heist flick? Well, it might be sooner than later, as there are also prequels already finished or in production stages heading to Netflix later this year and in early 2022. Check out the details below!

Hollywood Reporter interview with Zack and Deborah Snyder

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film sequel to be produced under Stone Quarry Productions is part of the first-look deal with Netflix. The deal establishes an ongoing working production partnership over the next two years.

This first-look arrangement already has one other confirmed production with Zack Snyder’s science fiction adventure Rebel Moon, which according to Snyder is his attempt at doing a Star Wars homage.

Zack Snyder’s Stone Quarry Productions Signs First-Look Film Deal With Netflix (Exclusive) https://t.co/eJgETv6zaE

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 21, 2021

As Snyder says about his perspective and approach with the Stone Quarry Productions projects:

My goal and hope are to bring as much quality content as I can and do it on a giant scale. Big projects and big movies.

It is interesting to note that Stone Quarry Productions, which Zack heads along with partner and wife Deborah Snyder and executive Wesley Coller, previously had a similar deal with Warner Bros., specifically for the DC Extended Universe/DCEU. However, due to the mixed critical and commercial results of the DCEU movies, the first-look deal with Warner Bros. ended in 2019 and was not renewed.

The production outfit took their time in making the decision to go with Netflix. Says Deborah Snyder regarding the selection process:

For us, it was so important to find a partnership that was based on mutual respect.

She continued by saying:

And Netflix has given us a lot of freedom. But they’ve also embraced the idea of trying new things and not necessarily waiting for a success before moving ahead.

Army of the Dead prequels

Aside from confirming the Army of the Dead sequel, Snyder is currently finishing production of that film’s two prequel projects. First is Army of Thieves, which is not in itself a zombie movie. Instead, it is a heist movie which focuses on Matthias Schweighöfer's character Dieter.

The other prequel is an anime series Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas. The series which will also air on Netflix and is more of a direct spin-off, exploring the cast of the first Army of the Dead and how events led to their fateful mission in the original film. Army of Thieves is projected for a release later in 2021, while Army of Thieves is aiming for an early 2022 release.

Zack Snyder also tweeted about their Comic-Con panel happening July 25, to discuss and address questions about the prequel Army of Thieves and Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, as well as the upcoming sequel:

Tune in tomorrow, July 25 at 2pm PT for the ARMY OF THIEVES @Comic_Con panel!https://t.co/oPvhEDt98S#ArmyofThieves pic.twitter.com/BP36aKRpVy

— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) July 24, 2021

The first-look exclusive deal that the Snyders made with Netflix has already netted a tidy profit. Army of the Dead is among the biggest productions on the Netflix service in terms of audience and viewership.

Franchise development

According to Netflix, the zombie heist movie pulled in 75 million household viewers among Netflix member accounts in the first 28 days from its May debut, which is on par with other big-budget productions previously released on the streaming platform. Among these are Bird Box (89 million), Enola Holmes (76 million), Extraction (99 million), The Old Guard (78 million), Project Power (75 million), and Spenser Confidential (85 million).

It is very likely that the sequel to Army of the Dead will deal with the repercussions of the end of the first film, with the entire team wiped out and the only survivor Vanderohe (Omari Hadwick) having been bitten by the Alpha zombie. Would it likely lead to another zombie infestation outside of Las Vegas? What about the persisting theory that the events of Army of the Dead are actually a time loop?

After the nuclear explosion that destroyed Las Vegas at the conclusion of the film, these are the potential scenarios that could be expanded on and explained in a sequel to the Netflix original. Regardless of the plot of the future sequel, it appears that the Army of the Dead franchise is here to stay.

Army of the Dead stars Dave Bautista, Ana de la Reguera, Tig Notaro, Hiroyuki Sanada, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Matthias Schweighöfer. Directed by Zack Snyder, Army of the Dead is available for streaming on Netflix.