In a significant shift, Netflix has quietly shelved plans to expand Zack Snyder’s “Army of the Dead” franchise into a full-fledged cinematic universe, canceling both a anticipated sequel film and animated series spinoff.

The streaming giant had greenlit “Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas” and “Planet of the Dead” to continue the story of Snyder’s zombie heist thriller, which attracted 75 million households in its first month after debuting in 2021. However, low viewership of the director’s recent Netflix epic “Rebel Moon” has reportedly caused the platform to halt building out the “Army of the Dead” universe.

“Army of the Dead” proved a massive hit for Netflix, with the prequel film “Army of Thieves” also performing well with 72 million viewing hours in its second weekend. But sources say Netflix has lost enthusiasm for Snyder’s ambitious plans after “Rebel Moon” parts 1 and 2 failed to break into the streamer’s Top 10 despite initially high viewing, and underwhelming critical reception.

A spokesperson for Snyder noted his visually ornate style often demands large budgets that may not have aligned with Netflix’ current priorities. While expansion is paused, the franchise will continue at haunted houses sponsored by partner Six Flags this Halloween season.

The volatile nature of the streaming market makes even the most popular IPs vulnerable to abrupt cancellation. Netflix must balance blockbuster filmmaking with sustainable costs and critical reception, a challenging task as competition in the streaming space escalates. The untimely demise of Snyder’s “Army of the Dead” universe is a reminder that in digital entertainment, box office success does guarantee a franchise’s immortality – even from the undead.

Tags: Action Army of the Dead Dave Bautista Ella Purnell Matthias Schweighöfer Netflix Nora Arnezeder Zack Snyder