PremiumNetflix’s Rebel Moon – Zack Snyder’s ambition, Star Wars Connection and everything in between
As Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child Of Fire inches closer to the release date, here is a complete overview of the project that has become the talk of the town.
Last Updated: 11.51 AM, Dec 14, 2023
A time probably far ahead from us, a place unimaginably away, the world (Moon) that is on the verge of being destroyed, and a girl not even remotely equipped to fight the powerful baddies takes up the job of saving it. Zack Snyder wrote a love letter to Star Wars in the words that were straight out of the Seven Samurai and he had a story that he made into a Netflix sci-fi film. Rebel Moon is a story told from the heart by a filmmaker who finds a niche in telling fantasy stories with lots of emotions and a touch of life.
The relevance of Snyder in pop culture at this point is vast. He is still the man who gave us the best Superman (as per the popular opinion) there is and also created a storyline that has a fandom wanting it to be revived. But hey, we aren’t letting the SnyderVerse debate overpower the moment our Zack is about to have. However, what we tend to not remember is that this is the same man who built the world of 300, and gave us Watchmen, Dawn Of The Dead (2004).
What Exactly Is Rebel Moon About?
So when Zack Snyder imagines yet another world that is far and completely different than ours, there are a lot of things to be excited about. Divided into two parts, Rebel Moon for the uninitiated, is about Kora (Sofia Boutella), a girl with a mysterious past who suspiciously lands on a Moon of Veldt in the furthest corner of the universe, and begins a new life with a community of farmers there. But one day when Regent Balisarius's (Fra Fee) emissary, Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein), comes for the farmers because they sell their crops to Bloodaxes (Cleopatra Coleman and Ray Fisher), Kora becomes their only hope to save them.
Bloodaxes are the insurgents who are being hunted down by the Motherworld. Enters Gunnar (Michiel Huisman) who joins Kora to find fighters to fight alongside them against Balisarius. They look out for Bloodaxes and bring together Kai (Charlie Hunnam), a pilot and gun for hire; General Titus (Djimon Hounsou), a legendary commander; Nemesis (Doona Bae), a master swordswoman; Tarak (Staz Nair), a captive with a regal past; and Milius (E. Duffy), a resistance fighter.
However, they now need to come together and fight the army of the Motherworld that is now set out to destroy the Moon Of Veldt. Amid all this Jimmy (Anthony Hopkins), an ancient mechanized protector awakens. The two parts are titled Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child Of Fire and Rebel Moon Part Two – The Scargiver.
The Star Wars Connection:
Will you believe if we tell you Zack Snyder had first pitched this storyline for Star Wars itself? This was the pitch that Snyder made to Lucasfilm for Revenge Of the Sith. When Disney and Lucasfilm didn’t approve of his idea, the filmmaker still kept going at it and is now thankful that Disney didn’t let him make that film. He blended his story with his favourite filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai vibe and born Rebel Moon.
What Is So Special:
First of all the fact that Zack Snyder is returning with a project that is set on a scale as big as this is in itself the biggest highlight. But if that hasn’t convinced you, there is an ensemble cast that only a seasoned director like Snyder can lead. There is Oscar award winner Anthony Hopkins, Michiel Huisman (Game Of Thrones), Charlie Hunnam, Ed Skrein (Deadpool), and a whole lot of talented people.
If even that isn’t convincing you, Zack Snyder reunites with his Man Of Steel and Justice League music composer Tom Holkenborg (Mad Max: Furry Road and Deadpool) to create a banger of a soundtrack. Paired with Zack’s cinematography and the stunning VFX that look so real, a visual treat is promised.
What can be another highlight is the surprising budget that the filmmaker has made not just the first part but even the second one in. As per Screenrant reports, both Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child Of Fire and Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver have been made at a budget of $166 Million. This makes it the most expensive movie of the year for Netflix. And if a streaming giant has invested so much in a project, there has to be some mettle.
What Is The Release Format?
Rebel Moon will of course have a wide premiere on Netflix but will also have a 7 day big screen release in selected countries in the West. The first part is rated PG-13 and is 2 hours and 15 minutes long. However, we wish the world could have gotten a chance to witness this visual Magnum Opus on the big screen.
Zack Snyder, who is happy with the PG-13 rating and the version that will suit a wider audience, has also confirmed a director’s cut for the same. Guess we all would have been surprised if there wasn’t a director’s cut to this. The filmmaker has also revealed that just like Justice League, an extra hour of footage will be added to the director’s cut of Rebel Moon.
Whether Zack Snyder returns to DCU or not is in the future and a far-fetched dream. What is real is that he is standing at our doorsteps with an ambitious project that deserves our attention. Rebel Moon has been labeled epic by the cast at the recent premiere and we hope that is true. Fingers crossed.
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child Of Fire releases on Netflix on December 21, 2023, and Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver will follow on April 19, 2024. Stay tuned to OTTplay for more on this and everything else from the world of streaming and films.