EXCL: Snyder's Army of the Dead Update!
Source:Ryan Rotten
October 26, 2007
Immersing oneself in the world of the long-awaited big screen adaptation of
Watchmen is an enviable, however protracted, duty director Zack Snyder (
Dawn of the Dead,
300) committed himself to this year leaving room in his life for not much else. But during this writer's visit to the Vancouver set (on behalf of ComingSoon.net), ShockTillYouDrop.com found out progress is being made on the Snyder-produced
Army of the Dead.
"We're meeting with directors right now," co-producer and wife Deborah Snyder exclusively tells us. Under their production banner Cruel & Unusual Films, the Snyders are developing the film for Warner Bros.
"That's a little hard [to do] because we're here [on set] and every day is killer. We want the right person for it. The script has been turned in to the studio and they're really happy with it, with pretty minimal notes back, so they said, 'Hey, let's get a director.'"
Based on a story by Zack and written by
Awake's Joby Harold, "Army" is described as a picture larger in scale than Snyder's 2004 "Dawn" redux.
"Basically, something happened in Vegas and there was this huge outbreak of these zombies that were killing people," Deborah explains.
"So to contain it they basically contain Vegas. The city is this wasteland with walls around it and all of these zombies are inside. One of our characters goes in there to investigate and gets trapped inside and her father goes in to search for her. He can't do it alone so he gets a group of mercenaries under the guise that there's money still in the casinos, because they don't care about his daughter. There's also a plotline of what's really going on - like, the containment isn't so contained and there are cover-ups. We think it's really fun. 'Dawn' was set in a mall and come on, Vegas is the perfect place to set a zombie film and you can have a lot of fun with that!"
Of the films they get phone calls on, Deborah adds
Army of the Dead is one that has generated a lot of interest. Currently, the Snyders are seeking a director with experience, but with a "fresh eye."
"What's important is tone. Like 'Dawn' has fun but it never makes fun. It's different than the tone of 28 Days Later, those films are super serious. I think 'Dawn' had a little bit more fun with it and we're hoping to have a similar tone in 'Army.'"
Comments
Posted by: Justin on June 2, 2008 at 19:56:16
First of all, I've been a fan of horror movies since I was five (approx 1985). The great thing about older scary films, is that they were actually 'scary'. Honestly, I haven't been on the edge of my seat and truly creeped in the last 10 or so years from a flick, except for Zack and James' Dawn remake. ANYONE who downplays his decision to make the zombies run, must not like adrenaline, because that's what made this one so good, the pace. Right from the beginning, when the girl busts her ass in the shower, then almost gets smashed by a semi, it's heart pounding till the end. I mean hey, IF a dead body has enough energy to rise up by-pedally and WALK, then why the hell not run also? Great movie, better than ANY of Romero's most recent attempts. Please keep them coming with your new style 'scary' approach to horror, Zack, and good luck on 'Army'.
PS I just read Max Brooks' book "World War Z". Awesome piece of lit, and I know even though it calls for slow zombies in the story, I think maybe the dream duo Zack and James would do it the best justice.. because it's so hard to get scared at the movies anymore, ya know?
J
Posted by: Noam on June 5, 2008 at 02:09:16
Finally a voice of reason.
I have been hiding in the shadows, scared to admit that I indeed was more immersed and scared by Dawn remake then the original movies.
So it violates the original Zombies Cant Run Edict.
So what.
It scared me 10x as much as the original ones, and I am old enough to have seen the originals as they came out ( that old, yes ).
Believable characters, strong direction, excellent cinematography.
Keep it up.
Posted by: orlock1965 on June 5, 2008 at 13:08:40
Zombies, running or not, what's the big debate? I enjoy the Romero stuff as much a the newer films. Zombies, running or not? Last time I checked there were no REAL zombies to compare the movie ones to. They are just movies, so sit back and enjoy!!! Besides, nobody forces you to watch the movies anyway... don't like it, don't watch it.
Posted by: BoggyCreekBeast on June 5, 2008 at 13:50:12
No. More. Zombies.
Posted by: Josh on June 5, 2008 at 16:48:44
I can't wait for this movie. Sounds great. I tend to like all zombie movies (except the really, really crappy straight to DVD ones). Zack's Dawn of the Dead is one of my all time favorite movies. It actually makes perfect sense to me to have the zombies able to run because when they want food and see what they want, they become a viscious killing machine and go for it! That's what made his movie so much more of a scare. If it were me, I honestly wouldn't be scared of a real life zombie takeover when it takes them 5 minutes to get across your front lawn. You can walk fast and breeze right by them! No, If I had some zombies RUNNING after me, you better bet that I'd be flying as well with adrenaline pumping like crazy. THAT would be a true horror and THAT is 10x more of a dreaded thought. don't get me wrong, Romero's early work was good, and is classic, but he's since lost his touch. Land of the Dead was "ok" but was nothing compared to Zack's "Dawn".
Second thought, we need some more horror movies with Bruce Campbell!!!!
Posted by: glean on June 6, 2008 at 03:23:16
wasnt res evil 3 a zombie movie set in vegas?... i loved dawn of the dead but i have my reservations
Posted by: joe on August 30, 2009 at 13:47:03
i think that not all zombies should be the same at the end of the day a zombie is decayed and maybe some of them are worse than others, so if 1 has a gammy leg it should limp but if not it should be able to run fast for scary scenes and this would also add a sence of unpredictableness which could add to the scare levels
Posted by: Mr. X on August 30, 2009 at 15:45:28
Zombies in Vegas, that is bad ass. Snyder did an excellent job with Dawn of the Dead so I know that this next zombie flick will just as great.
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