10 Actors Who Might Save Upcoming Movies

Considering the intensely mixed response to Zack Snyder's Army of the Dead, you can't really blame people for being skeptical about Netflix's attempts to build a wider franchise around the zombie movie.

But months before Army of the Dead has even been released, the prequel film Army of Thieves had already completed principal photography, inviting accusations that the streaming platform was trying to force a cinematic universe before audience interest had even been properly gauged.

Those fears were assuaged somewhat, however, when it was revealed that the prequel would revolve around Army of the Dead's breakout character, wise-cracking German safe-cracker Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer).

Given that Dieter was by far the most entertaining character in Snyder's film, him leading a years-earlier heist comedy actually seems like a pretty inspired idea. The recently released first trailer certainly backs that up.

Furthermore, actor Matthias Schweighöfer also directed the film, so he'll hopefully ensure that despite the ensemble-driven nature of the film, Dieter is the focal figure.

As dubious as a series of Army of the Dead-adjacent movies seems, Schweighöfer's involvement alone will ensure even many who were lukewarm on Snyder's film will give this prequel a go.