Following the success of Army of the Dead, Zack Snyder is gearing up for another project for Netflix called Rebel Moon. The American film director is known for grand stories, and fans expect the imminent epic space opera movie to have sufficient complexity and spectacle to compete with the Star Wars franchise in terms of quality and entertainment.
For starters, the works of Akira Kurosawa and the Star Wars franchise were the inspirations for making Rebel Moon. As a matter of fact, the movie kicked off development as a Star Wars film that Zack pitched to Lucasfilm after the Walt Disney Company acquired the said film and television production company in 2012.
The pitch was reportedly to be a more mature take on the Star Wars universe. Zack and producer Eric Newman redeveloped the project into an original television series before finally settling on a movie by Netflix. Last April, it was revealed that Rebel Moon will be a two-part movie, with both parts originally planned to film back-to-back. The first film is titled Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire, and the second part is called Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver.
As fans await more details about the forthcoming film, here is everything you need to know about Rebel Moon.
Rebel Moon Release Date: When will it be available to stream on Netflix?
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire is set to be released on December 22, 2023, on Netflix, with a limited theatrical release being planned. A second installment is expected to follow, but there is no confirmed release date as of this writing.
The sci-fi film is also scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the U.S. on December 15, 2023.
Rebel Moon is projected to be its own distinct story, which Zack allegedly plans to expand into its own Star Wars-like universe. However, it remains to be seen what the sequels will cover, but these might feature the actual “rebel moon” since the director previously divulged that the titular planet would not appear in the first installment. Of Rebel Moon, Zack explained:
"The title is conceptual, but there's a planet named Vanna, and Vanna is the rebel moon. It's not even in one shot of this movie."
Rebel Moon Cast: Who are the actors starring in the sci-fi movie?
The cast of Rebel Moon is composed of A-list stars such as Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ed Skrein and Sofia Boutella, who will play Kora, a former member of the Imperium who rallies combatants from across the galaxy in opposition to the Imperium. Anthony will voice Jimmy, the last member of a race of mechanical knights under the fallen monarch, and Ed will play Admiral Atticus Noble, a high-ranking enforcer of the Mother World and the commander of the Imperium army.
Other stars to appear on Rebel Moon include Djimon Hounsou as General Titus, a former general recruited to lead the rebellion against the Imperium; Jena Malone as Harmada, a lethal spider combatant that Kora recruited; Cleopatra Coleman as Devra Bloodaxe, the sister of Darrian recruited by Kora; Ray Fisher as Darrian Bloodaxe, a warrior that Kora recruited; Donna Bae as Nemesis, a cybernetic swordsman enlisted by Kora; Staz Nair as Tarak, a blacksmith with the ability to bond with creatures of nature and rally them for combat; Fra Fee as Regent Balisarius, a tyrannical governor of the Imperium and a member of the Mother World's highest echelons; and Michiel Huisman as Gunmar, a farmer and friend of Kora who joins her.
The Lost City of Z actor Charlie Hunnam will play the role of Kai, a mercenary pilot of a starship recruited by Kora. Additionally, Ray Porter, Rhian Rees, Alfonso Herrera, Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll, and Stuart Martin have been cast in undisclosed roles.
Rebel Moon Plot: What is the upcoming space opera about?
Rebel Moon is a sci-fi epic film that centers on a group of young warriors who will be entrusted with facing off against tyrannical alien invaders. In a universe ruled by the corrupt government of the Mother World, the moon of Veldt is imperiled by Regent Balisarius' Imperium forces. Kora, a former member of the Imperium who seeks redemption for her past in the leadership of the oppressive government, is tasked with recruiting combatants from across the galaxy before the Mother World's forces return to the planet.
Here's the basic premise of Rebel Moon:
"When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed."
Zack has characterized the Rebel Moon movie as a "space opera" set in a "dieselpunk world," and his producing partner, Deborah Snyder, has compared it to Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. The Man of Steel director told Vanity Fair:
“They land in the village to say, ‘Listen, you guys will be our local food source while we’re tromping around this part of the galaxy. So how long till the harvest comes in?’ The villagers are pretty much stunned by the brutality, but they don’t realize what level the Mother World’s ready to go to.”
Rebel Moon Trailer: Is there a teaser for Zack Snyder's upcoming sci-fi movie?
During Gamescom 2023 in August, a new trailer for Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon debuted, giving us a look at the epic space opera.
Watch the latest trailer for Rebel Moon here:
Back in June, Netflix released a behind-the-scenes look at Rebel Moon during its Tudum event, which included footage from the film and Zack's remarks about what fans can expect. Watch the behind-the-scenes video below:
When is Rebel Moon sequel coming to Netflix?
At Gamescom 2023, it was revealed that the sequel to Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire is scheduled to release on April 19, 2024. Not much details have been revealed for the second movie but expect Netflix to share more information after the first movie is released later this year.
Stay tuned to EpicFlix for the latest news and updates about Rebel Moon!
