Rebel Moon – a Netflix space opera film with a Snyder twist? (trailer)
From Zack Snyder, the mastermind behind cinematic epics like 300 and Man of Steel, comes his latest brainchild, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire. This 2-part scifi movie extravaganza is decades in the making and ready to launch us into a new universe, courtesy of Netflix. Get your spacesuits ready, folks!
Our protagonist, Kora (played by Sofia Boutella), crash-lands on a moon somewhere in the universe’s back alley. She’s a woman shrouded in mystery, starting anew among a settlement of farmers, who, let’s face it, probably weren’t expecting intergalactic company. But alas, peace is short-lived as the evil Regent Balisarius (Fra Fee) and his henchman Admiral Noble (Ed Skrein) have their eyes set on these humble farmers. Why? Because apparently, selling crops to the wrong people – in this case, the Bloodaxes led by Cleopatra Coleman and Ray Fisher – can attract the worst kind of cosmic attention.
Now, it’s up to Kora and Gunnar (Michiel Huisman), a farmer whose knowledge of war is probably limited to fighting off space crows, to travel across worlds. Their mission? Rally a motley crew of warriors, each with their own redemption arc. We have Kai (Charlie Hunnam), the gun-toting pilot, General Titus (Djimon Hounsou), a legendary commander with probably tons of war stories, Nemesis (Doona Bae), the master swordswoman (because every space opera needs one), Tarak (Staz Nair), who seems to be a beastmaster of sorts, and Milius (E. Duffy), a resistance fighter. Oh, and let’s not forget Jimmy, voiced by none other than Anthony Hopkins, who’s essentially an ancient robotic knight. Yes, you heard that right. Anthony Hopkins is voicing a space robot. This group of would-be heroes must somehow gel together before the Motherworld’s forces turn their new home into cosmic dust.
Rebel Moon is more than just your average space opera; it’s a Zack Snyder space opera. This means we can expect his trademark blend of stylistic visuals and perhaps slow-motion space battles? The film boasts an ensemble cast that includes, aside from the aforementioned, Jena Malone, Ingvar Sigurdsson, and a host of others in roles that are currently hush-hush.
The roots of Rebel Moon lie in a pitch originally meant for a Star Wars film by Snyder, which was then transformed into this Netflix extravaganza. The film takes inspiration from Akira Kurosawa and Heavy Metal magazines, and it’s easy to predict that we’re in for some visually stunning and possibly quite eccentric cinematic moments.
Filming for this space epic spanned over several months across California, with Snyder doubling as the cinematographer. Given the extensive filming and an $83 million budget, we’re expecting some serious visual treats.
As for the music, Tom Holkenborg, a frequent Snyder collaborator, is on board to score the film. Knowing Holkenborg’s track record, the music will likely be as epic as the film’s premise.
Rebel Moon will have a limited theatrical release in December 2023 before making its way to Netflix. And if you’re a fan of extended cuts and R-rated content, Snyder has you covered with an extended cut of the film. And the best part? This is only the beginning. Snyder envisions Rebel Moon as a massive new IP, with a sequel already slated for an April 2024 release. So, buckle up, space fans, because Rebel Moon is about to take you on an interstellar rollercoaster ride.
