5 Canceled Zack Snyder Movies He Never Finished Making

by

Zack Snyder is facing some challenges with his projects at Netflix. The streaming service recently canceled his animated series, Twilight of the Gods, about a king and shield-maiden fighting fading gods. They also decided not to continue with the Army of the Dead franchise, citing poor performance. Plus, the fate of Snyder’s Rebel Moon is currently uncertain, as he’s waiting to see how things develop.

Zack Snyder became a huge name in the 2000s with films like 300 and Watchmen, but he’s had trouble consistently reaching that same level of success since then. While his career has had some highs and lows, his fans have stuck with him, often rushing to his defense. Despite their support, Snyder likely feels disappointed that so many of his planned projects never come to fruition. He could really use a string of consistent successes, similar to what other well-known directors enjoy.

Here are 5 notable canceled Zack Snyder movies.

5
‘300: Blood and Ashes’


Warner Bros.

After the huge success of 300, Zack Snyder wanted to make a follow-up film. He initially planned a story exploring the origins of Xerxes, showing how he transformed from a Persian prince into a ruler who believed himself to be a god. But by 2020, Snyder had changed the script completely, focusing instead on a romantic relationship between Alexander the Great and his general, Hephaestion.

I was really disappointed to hear Warner Bros. passed on Zack Snyder’s script. Apparently, they felt it strayed too far from the world of 300, but honestly, Snyder thinks it had more to do with bad blood from the Justice League situation and everything that happened with the Snyder Cut. He basically said they’re not his biggest fans, and he’s accepted that. The good news is, he and his wife, Deborah, got the script rights back in December 2023, so they’re free to pitch it to other studios. So far, no one’s jumped at it, but there’s still hope it might find a home somewhere else. As a fan, I’m really hoping it does!

While another movie based on 300 isn’t necessary, a truly great film about Alexander the Great is long overdue. This iconic historical figure deserves a high-quality, large-scale production – Oliver Stone’s 2004 attempt didn’t quite deliver. With the success of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator 2, it’s clear audiences still enjoy epic historical dramas. The question now is whether someone else will give director Zack Snyder the opportunity to make it happen. Only time will tell.

4
‘The Fountainhead’


Clay Enos /© Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

In 2018, director Zack Snyder announced he would be making a movie based on Ayn Rand’s 1943 novel, The Fountainhead. The film, like the book, centers on Howard Roark, a determined young architect who clashes with established figures because he refuses to compromise his unique vision and creative principles.

Zack Snyder was very passionate about the project, explaining to Vanity Fair that its themes resonated with him because the strong, unwavering vision of architecture mirrored his approach to filmmaking. Unfortunately, even after writing a script, he had to pause the project, believing its sensitive political topics would cause problems in the current environment. He later shared that in 2024, he tried to get Netflix to turn it into a series, but they declined.

It’s a real shame this project didn’t happen, but the biggest loss is for Zack Snyder himself. Adapting The Fountainhead would have been a fantastic opportunity for him to demonstrate his skills as a serious filmmaker, beyond just visual effects. Dramatic roles can really make or break a director and their actors, and considering Snyder’s bold style, he likely would have either won an Oscar or received a Razzie award.

3
‘Wolverine’


20th Century Studios

The X-Men were popular in the 1990s thanks to their animated series, and they continued to succeed in the 2000s with the live-action movies from Fox. As before, Wolverine was the most popular character, leading the studio to consider a movie focused solely on him. Zack Snyder was among those asked to direct, and he proposed a gritty, R-rated film, though the story details weren’t finalized. Ultimately, the project didn’t move forward with Snyder and was given to another director.

ScreenRant reports that a Zack Snyder-directed Wolverine movie never materialized due to two main issues: Snyder’s busy schedule and the studio’s concerns. Snyder was highly sought after in the 2000s, making him difficult to book. This was problematic for Fox, who wanted to release X-Men films frequently. Furthermore, the studio hesitated about the potential profitability of a movie with an R rating.

It turns out the worries about an R-rated Wolverine movie were unfounded. James Mangold proved it was a good idea with Logan, which came out a few years ago and earned over $600 million. The bigger question is whether Zack Snyder could have delivered a truly great film, considering the script. While his more recent superhero movies haven’t been successful, he was at a strong point in his career back then, so he probably would have created something worthwhile.

2
‘Planet of the Dead’


Netflix

In May 2021, Zack Snyder announced plans for a sequel to Army of the Dead, originally titled Planet of the Dead. The story would continue from the ending of the first film, focusing on Omari Hardwick’s character, Vanderohe, who would become a powerful zombie leader, and a large outbreak occurring in Mexico. Netflix officially greenlit the project later that year after signing a deal with Snyder for future films.

The plan was for this movie to be just the start of a larger series. Snyder had revealed plans for spin-off shows and movies, including one focused on the character Rolph. However, in August 2024, the studio unexpectedly cancelled all future installments and related projects.

It’s understandable why fans are disappointed about Planet of the Dead never getting a sequel. Reports suggest it could have been a really innovative zombie film – Games Radar mentioned plans for a time loop storyline, and the Mexican setting promised stunning visuals. Given the positive reception and Snyder’s clear talent shown in the first movie, it’s a shame the project didn’t move forward.

1
‘Heavy Metal 3’


Columbia Pictures

The animated anthology film, Heavy Metal, was popular in the 1980s, and a follow-up was released in 2000. After that, a third film was planned with segments directed by a group of well-known directors including Guillermo del Toro, David Fincher, James Cameron, Gore Verbinski, and Zack Snyder.

According to a 2010 Collider report, the filmmakers originally planned a 3D reboot of the series. This seemed like a better option than simply making a sequel, as the second film had received very negative reviews – earning only an 8% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The franchise needed a significant change, so they brought in experienced talent. However, director Snyder later revealed that many of those involved weren’t enthusiastic about continuing the project.

While many excellent anthology films are out there, most people haven’t discovered them. Wild Tales is a perfect example – it’s a fantastic movie that deserves a wider audience. This might explain why studios are reluctant to invest in these types of films. However, a reboot of Heavy Metal with a star-studded cast would be really entertaining, and hopefully, it will happen in the future.

Read More

2025-11-28 20:04