Zack Snyder confirms Rebel Moon and Army Of The Dead share a universe

Sofia Boutella in Rebel Moon
(Image credit: Netflix)

In the new issue of Total Film, which hits shelves this week, director Zack Snyder reveals that his upcoming action slash space adventure Rebel Moon shares a universe with his Netflix zombie film series. 

"Army of the Dead has a pretty vast mythology that never made it into the movie.” says the Justice League director, "There’s actually a character from Rebel Moon in the Army of the Dead animated series that we never did." 

Snyder’s Army of the Dead series started in 2021 with the Army of the Dead movie, starring Guardians of the Galaxy’s Dave Bautista and Yellowjackets’ Ella Purnell in a post-apocalyptic and zombie-ridden Las Vegas, a few months later the sequel Army of Thieves was released. The animated series that Snyder mentions, titled Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, was supposed to hit Netflix straight after the first two movies but was never completed. 

The unfinished series is what contains the Rebel Moon crossovers. "At one point in the show, they go through a portal into another dimension, and there are characters in that other dimension that they come across," Snyder explains, "In Rebel Moon, they’re in this bar, and one of the aliens is one of the characters from the animatic. So it’s definitely a shared universe.” 

Set in a galaxy far away, Rebel Moon starring The Gentlemen’s Charlie Hunnam and The Mummy’s Sofia Boutella, follows a young woman with a mysterious past who must build an army to fight back against the tyrannical forces who are threatening her home and community.

Later in the interview, Snyder confirmed that much work on Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas has already been completed, he says,  “We did all the scripts and the animatics, and all the voices are recorded. So you could watch it, even in its crazy animatic form – you can watch the whole run.” The series was to be an anime-inspired show chronicling the early days of the undead outbreak.

Rebel Moon Part 1 lands on Netflix on December 22nd, 2023. Rebel Moon Part 2 will follow soon after, streaming on Netflix on April 19th, 2024. Snyder’s Army of the Dead and Army of Thieves are both available to stream on Netflix right now.

For much more on Rebel Moon and Zack Snyder, pick up a copy of the new issue of Total Film when it hits shelves on November 9. Check out the covers below:

The Bikeriders Total Film cover

(Image credit: Future/20th Century Studios)

Pre-order the issue here to bag your copy, or click here to subscribe to Total Film and never miss another exclusive. With our latest offer, you can get a JOBY Magnetic Wireless Charger worth £29.95 when you take out a print subscription.

Jordan Farley
Deputy Editor, Total Film

I'm the Deputy Editor at Total Film magazine, overseeing the features section of every issue where you can read exclusive, in-depth interviews and see first-look images from the biggest films. I was previously the News Editor at sci-fi, fantasy and horror movie bible SFX. You'll find my name on news, reviews, and features covering every type of movie, from the latest French arthouse release to the biggest Hollywood blockbuster. My work has also featured in Official PlayStation Magazine and Edge.

With contributions from
Read more
Cyborg and Batman together
Justice League stars Ray Fisher and Ben Affleck are teaming up for new thriller Animals
James Gunn
James Gunn and Zack Snyder's viral photo was posted to prove to DC fans there's no bad blood between them: "It's such a weird dynamic that's been created between factions online"
Superman
James Gunn cryptically suggests that the DCU is building towards a Superman and Batman crossover
Robert Pattinson in The Batman
Upcoming DC movies and TV shows: every DCU title coming soon
Millie Bobby Brown in The Electric State
The Russo brothers’ upcoming Netflix movie The Electric State includes a section that takes place before the graphic novel due to its "vague narrative"
Giancarlo Esposito and Stanley Tucci in The Electric State
Stars Stanley Tucci and Giancarlo Esposito say their new dystopian sci-fi movie The Electric State is more like our own reality than we might realize
Latest in Action Movies
Jason Statham in A Working Man
Jason Statham and The Beekeeper director's new movie co-written by Sylvester Stallone debuts to mixed reviews with a divisive Rotten Tomatoes score
Heath Ledger as Joker in The Dark Knight
17 years after The Dark Knight was released, Michael Caine recalls being "floored" and "terrified" by Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker
WandaVision episode 8
Robert Downey Jr's WandaVision Easter egg in the Avengers: Doomsday announcement has me thinking Scarlet Witch will be in the movie after all
channing tatum gambit in deadpool and wolverine
Marvel fans are hoping Channing Tatum's Gambit return in Avengers: Doomsday will be different from Deadpool and Wolverine
Spider-Man 4
There might be an obvious reason why Tom Holland's Spider-Man wasn't announced for Avengers: Doomsday
Patrick Stewart in X-Men
Marvel fans are already theorizing how Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, and James Marsden's X-Men will be integrated into Avengers: Doomsday
Latest in News
Marvel Cosmic Invasion promo art showing various heroes teaming up against Annihilus
The spirit of those incredible '90s arcade comic book brawlers lives on in Marvel Cosmic Invasion, a new retro beat-em-up game from the creators of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows shoots past 3 million players and 40 million hours played with the "second-highest day 1 sales revenue in Assassin's Creed franchise history"
Jason Statham in A Working Man
Jason Statham and The Beekeeper director's new movie co-written by Sylvester Stallone debuts to mixed reviews with a divisive Rotten Tomatoes score
Heath Ledger as Joker in The Dark Knight
17 years after The Dark Knight was released, Michael Caine recalls being "floored" and "terrified" by Heath Ledger's performance as the Joker
A cartoon woman catches a tomato while cooking in Rhythm Heaven Groove
Rhythm Heaven Groove has one of Nintendo's longest-suffering fandoms absolutely feasting: "AFTER 10 YEARS WE FINALLY WON"
The Last of Us 2
After telling The Last of Us fans don't "bet on" a Part 3, Neil Druckmann says "so many stars have to align, I can't guarantee it" but he treats every game "like it could be my last"