10 Best Movie Characters Of 2021 (So Far)

6. Ludwig Dieter - Army Of The Dead

Cruella Emma Stone
Netflix

Despite Zack Snyder's zombie flick being overflowing with colourful characters, how many of them can you actually even name, let alone remember in any real detail?

While they mostly fit into generic mercenary cliches, by far the movie's MVP is German safecracker Ludwig Dieter (Matthias Schweighöfer), who serves as Army of the Dead's primary source of comic relief.

Dieter's motormouth inquisitiveness and hilarious awkwardness compared to his gruffer, more self-serious comrades basically makes him feel like an audience surrogate for most of the movie, ensuring viewers will enthusiastically root for his survival (albeit in vain, sadly).

Despite being the silliest member of the central ensemble, Dieter is both smart and brave, per his safecracking and the quickness with which he learns to fight.

His unconventional bromance with the decidedly more survival-ready Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick) proves especially entertaining.

Clearly Snyder and co. knew they'd struck gold with Dieter, given that the character is set to star in the already-filmed prequel, Army of Thieves, chronicling his early days as a safecracker. Better still, the film is being directed by actor Schweighöfer himself.

Dieter may be dead, but he'll get to live on a little longer thanks to the impending prequel.

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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.