After hinting that they’d be working together soon,Dave Bautistahas closed a deal to star inZack Snyder’s zombie heist movieArmy of the Deadat Netflix, Collider has confirmed with sources.
Snyder came up with the story and co-wrote the script withJoby HaroldandShay Hatten. Set in the middle of a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, the story follows a group of mercenaries who venture into the quarantined zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted.
Snyder and his wife,Deborah Snyder, are producing via their Stony Quarry banner along withWesley Coller. Netflix executivesOri MarmurandAndrew Normanwill oversee the project for the streaming service.
Production is slated to start this summer, and the budget is expected to be around $70 million – more than double what his 2004 zombie movieDawn of the Deadcost. Of course, that was to be expected given Snyder’s blockbuster credits like300,WatchmenandBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Bautista is absolutely blowing up as a movie star thanks to his massive physique and his emotional sensitivity. You may laugh, but I think he’s a solid actor who is very much in touch with his feelings, not just some lunkhead wrestler. Not only is he filmingDenis Villeneuve’sDunereboot and coming back for Marvel’sGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3now thatJames Gunnhas been reinstated as its director, but he’s also being eyed to star in Gunn’sSuicide Squadsequel. That may no longer happen depending on Snyder’s shooting schedule forArmy of the Dead. In addition to all of that, Bautista he’s also heading toWrestlemania 35this weekend to battleTriple H.
Outside of the ring, Bautista will soon be seen reprising his role as Drax inAvengers: Endgame, and he’ll also star oppositeKumail Nanjianiint he action-comedyStuber, which hits theaters this July. Bautista has also wrapped STX’sMy Spy, which justdebuted its trailer online, and the action sequelEscape Plan: The Extractors. He’s represented by CAA and Meisner Entertainment Group, and Deadline broke the news of his official casting. Netflix had no comment.
