- Zack Snyder’s upcoming space opera, Rebel Moon, will feature an expanded and R-rated Director’s Cut with an hour of new content.
- The film draws inspiration from the Star Wars universe and the work of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa.
- Plans for the Rebel Moon franchise include two movies and future spin-offs, including an animated series.
Zack Snyder is renowned for his remarkable dedication to epic world-building and lengthy runtimes. With Rebel Moon, he continues this trend, creating a space opera with an expanded and R-rated Director’s Cut that includes an additional hour of new content. While the PG-13 version of Rebel Moon is designed to appeal to a broad audience with its mythological scope, Snyder’s expanded cut is said to be fun, subversive, and a rare example of a large-scale, R-rated sci-fi movie.
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire is scheduled to arrive on Netflix next month, but even before its release, Snyder is already teasing his expanded cut, known for pushing boundaries beyond the typical PG-13 ratings in pursuit of more creative freedom. Comparing the two versions of the film, Snyder said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “I’m super proud of the PG-13 version, the broader audience version, because I would say it really satisfies an awesome, timeless, mythological scope. What we’ve done with the other version is fun and subversive because an R-rated sci-fi movie at this scale shouldn’t exist. It’s not just slightly different or a little bit more.”
Originally conceived as part of the Star Wars universe, Rebel Moon’s storyline evolved into a unique space-based sci-fi fantasy that could easily form the basis for Snyder’s next big franchise. The two-film project tells the story of a peaceful settlement on a moon at the edge of the universe, threatened by an oppressive regime. Sofia Boutella stars as Kora, a mysterious stranger who assembles a group of warriors to defend their home against the oppressors. The film draws inspiration from both George Lucas’ universe and Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s work, whom Snyder cites as a life-long inspiration.
In addition to his Rebel Moon franchise, Snyder has been building a strong presence on Netflix, starting with Man of Steel in 2013 and later expanding with Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League. After temporarily stepping away from the DC franchise due to personal reasons, he returned with Army of the Dead in 2021, followed by a prequel, Army of Thieves. Future projects for the streaming platform include an animated spin-off, Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas, and a sequel, Planet of the Dead. Snyder is also involved in the animated series Twilight of the Gods, which puts a unique spin on Norse mythology.
Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire will debut on Netflix on December 22, 2023.