The Netflix action/zombie flick "Army of the Dead", partially filmed in Atlantic City in 2019, is set for release in theaters nationwide this Thursday and on Netflix May 21.

The flick is a trailblazer of sorts for Netflix. The movie's theatrical release to about 600 theaters a week before airing on the network is their biggest theatrical release yet, after testing the concept in a very limited manner last year with three movies.

The closest theater showing "Army of the Dead" is the Cinemark 16 and XD in Somerdale, Camden County.

“Army of the Dead” stars Dave Bautista (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) as the leader of a group of mercenaries who travel to Las Vegas to pull off a casino heist in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

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"Army of the Dead" is directed by Zack Snyder, best known for his work in action and sci-fi flicks. Snyder made his feature film debut with the 2004 remake "Dawn of the Dead" and has gone on to be known for his comic book movies and superhero films, including "300", the superman reboot " Man of Steel",  and  "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice".

Producers say "Army of the dead" is not a sequel to "Dawn of the Dead" or the earlier zombie flick "Night of the Living Dead". But, those who have seen a preview, say the film uses all the zombie movie tricks, and at least one new one - a zombie cat!

The Press of Atlantic City reports that both Showboat Hotel and the former Atlantic Club Casino were used for filming "Army of the Dead" in September and October of 2019.

Steven Gorelick, executive director of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission told the Press of Atlantic City that the production company spent about $27 million in New Jersey during the filming and that many locals ended up getting roles as zombie extras.

While the movie was shooting in AC, the crew booking 11,000 hotel nights, Gorelick said. The crew ate at such local restaurants as American Cut in the Ocean Casino Resort and the Knife and Fork, the Press of Atlantic City reports.

Steven Gorelick says the Showboat casino floor was used for filming of the before-zombie scenes and the Atlantic Club depicted the post-zombie casino, complete with burned-out cars to give the look of a wasteland.

In this special director's cut trailer, Director Zack Snyder dissects his new film Army of the Dead, shot by shot. Hear the behind the scenes detail about some of those epic shots ahead of the "Army of the Dead".


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