Warner Bros. vs. Netflix: Streamer Gives Creative Freedom, Data, and Real Partnership to the Snyders – Yahoo Entertainment

When Zack Snyder departed his Warner Bros. tentpole Justice League in 2017, it spelled the end of the filmmakers long run with the studio. Even though he resurrected his vision with Zack Snyders Justice League on Warner Medias HBO Max, after seven films with the studio, he and his wife, creative partner, and producer Deborah Snyder opted to bring their next film to Netflix.

Theyd long hoped to make Army of the Dead, an ambitious zombie heist film, at Warners, but Deborah said they have no regrets in creating this new partnership. When Netflix stepped in to make the film in 2019, it offered a big budget, a greenlight for two more franchise entries, and the kind of creative freedom not often on offer in a world gone mad for existing IP. And then there was the data.

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I got absolutely no information from HBO Max or Warner Bros. None, she told IndieWire. Im getting a lot more indication [from Netflix about Army of the Dead], a lot more sharing of information in terms of indicators that are looking good. They wont be reporting box office because its not really about the box office for this were in 600 theaters but I think the idea was more, this is a big film and they want to eventize it.

While a theatrical run was never in the cards for Zack Snyders Justice League, Army of the Dead rolls out in 600 theaters today, a week before it hits Netflix. Snyder sees it as a win-win: having something new to play on the big screen can help theaters, while also giving eager fans the chance to see it early.

It helps the movie theaters to drive people there, but it wasnt about having to make a certain amount of money, she said. For us, its about people liking it and seeing it and wanting to see it.

And while Snyder is an unabashed fan of the theatrical experience, she recognizes that many studio films the kind she and her husband used to make for Warner Bros. only happen if theyve got existing IP (and existing fanbases) behind them. For Army of the Dead, an original story that Zack Snyder had been trying to make for over a decade, Warner Bros. couldnt offer what Netflix could.

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I dont think would have been made had it not been for Netflix, Snyder said. What a streaming service like Netflix is doing is allowing stories to get told that wouldnt be getting told. Warner Bros., for so many years, we couldnt figure it out with them. When we decided to make it, they had the opportunity to do so [with us], but [Warners] couldnt offer us the same budget that we could get to make it [at Netflix]. Everyone has to make these safe choices and I feel with the streaming services, theyre a little bit more bold and brash, and I think thats really good for filmmakers.

Netflix was also willing to do something few studios would: greenlight a franchise, including two films and an anime series, right out of the gate. The film prequel, Army of Thieves, was filmed during the pandemic (directed by Army of the Dead co-star Matthias Schweighfer, who also stars in it) and will hit Netflix later this year. Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, the anime series, Snyder has developed alongside Jay Oliva and will reunite most of the films cast to give voice to their characters. Snyder himself directed two episodes of the series.

Thats not something that would happen in the studio world, she said, particularly with a new story and universe like the one her husband and co-writer Shay Hatten created with Army of the Dead.

If youre thinking about creating exciting new IP, and you wait until the [first] movie comes out and its successful, youre waiting years before you can say, Okay, go ahead, lets pull the trigger on a prequel. Lets pull the trigger on an animated series,' she said. Everybodys waiting on the sure bet and sometimes you have to take that chance, and they were willing to do that. The studios dont want to make that investment until they know its a sure thing. Whats been exciting is for Netflix to say, Yes, we want you to create a franchise, we believe in this and we like what were seeing. I felt like it was a real partnership.

Asked if there was anything cut from the film like an alleged sequence involving a zombie penis that Snyder missed, she was resolute: With this one, everything really that I wanted to see, I got to see.

That even included a nod to Zack Snyders Justice League, which didnt exist when the Snyders shot Army of the Dead in summer 2019; it didnt even seem like a possibility.

When we were making the film, we never thought that [the Snyder Cut of] Justice League would actually happen, so we put the film canisters of Justice League in the vault that they open up, Snyder said. At the time, it was never a possibility. That was a fun one.

Asked if the Snyders view Netflix as their new homebase, Snyder demurred. Well have to see, she said. Its great to be able to not be tied to a single studio, but at the same time, weve had this amazing relationship with our executives, with our marketing department. We like staying with people when its a good partnership and you feel mutually supported. So I really hope to do a lot more with Netflix.

Army of the Dead is in limited theaters now, and will hit Netflix on Friday, May 21.

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Warner Bros. vs. Netflix: Streamer Gives Creative Freedom, Data, and Real Partnership to the Snyders - Yahoo Entertainment