Isn’t the prospect of a post-apocalyptic zombie-heist film in Las Vegas already a tantalizing premise, begging to be brought to life with cinematic flair? But Netflix has opted to lavish Zack Snyder with another substantial sum to develop Insurrection Moon, a novel sci-fi universe marked by its unrelenting brutality and stark contrast to traditional family-friendly fare like Star Wars – at least, judging from the newly released directors’ cuts. Now, it appears that the filmmaker’s fortunate streak has finally come to an end, as there are no longer any new additions to the Military of the Dead franchise.
Since the lukewarm reception of his 2017 Justice League film by Warner Bros. Snyder’s tumultuous journey began with his earlier collaboration on Frankenstein’d films by Joss Whedon and producers, a legacy that spanned decades. Since then, he has oscillated between promoting studio-approved ideas and pursuing personal projects, juggling two distinct identities: the one serving major studios and the other tailored to his own creative vision. The infamous “Snyder Cut” of Justice League, born from the toxic online backlash, surprisingly transformed the theatrical misfire into a bold, distinctive vision under Zack Snyder’s creative direction. Although that strategy initially seemed innovative,
According to an exclusive interview with Zack and Deborah Snyder by TheWrap, primarily focused on their Moon DCs franchise, it has emerged that Netflix has opted to quietly distance itself from the troubled Military of the Dead, a film that received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike, ultimately deemed too bloated and costly for what was essentially a zombie movie. The series’ intricate world-building and complex concepts demanded substantial investment in subsequent films and television adaptations to do them justice. While the Snyderverse’s creative decisions may be subject to scrutiny, the industry’s current climate of cost-cutting and risk-aversion makes it unsurprising that Netflix has reevaluated its investment in this particular franchise.
There’s a wry aside within unearthing this piece, as Deborah Snyder notes that, in any case, “there will probably be themed expertise coming to the Six Flags theme parks this Halloween.” Honestly, this assertion feels like the icing on an otherwise burnt cake, and this isn’t something I personally wish to write about, as I’ve always admired the filmmaker’s and his partner/producer’s willingness to take bold risks even when they don’t pay off most of the time; you must also learn to recognize when it’s time to abandon failed ideas and regroup on a new front.
At this stage, it’s plausible that Zack Snyder would not be surprised if long-time friend and former collaborator James Gunn asked him to contribute to the DC Universe under more favorable conditions.
