It was meant to be Star Wars, and now it's going to be a two part epic on Netflix by Zack Snyder! Join us as we showcase everything we know about Netflix’s sci-fi space opera, “Rebel Moon", from the story, to the cast, multiple cuts and so much more! Let us know if you are excited for Rebel Moon's release in December!
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00:00 "When I found you in the wreckage of that ship, I considered leaving you."
00:06 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking over all that we know about Netflix's sci-fi
00:10 space opera Rebel Moon. "It's a story of a few against many, impossible odds, good versus evil."
00:17 From Zack Snyder and his team
00:20 Following a lengthy run at Warner Bros., fan-favorite director Zack Snyder found a
00:25 new home at Netflix in 2019. After the massive success of his first movie with the streamer
00:30 Army of the Dead, Snyder announced his next project for Netflix, the science-fiction epic
00:35 Rebel Moon. "This movie for me existed elementally for 20 years." The colossal film is produced by
00:43 Snyder's company and includes his wife Debra and Eric Newman, who co-produced Zack's feature debut
00:48 Dawn of the Dead. Joining Snyder on the screenplay for Rebel Moon was Kurt Johnstad, who worked with
00:53 Zack on 300, and Shea Hatton, who co-wrote Army of the Dead. "He's a goddamn zombie tiger." Zack
00:59 himself tackled the film's cinematography along with directing duties, while composer Tom Hulkenborg
01:04 of Batman v Superman soundtrack fame composed the score. It was meant to be a Star Wars film.
01:13 Yep, in a galaxy not so far away, Zack Snyder intended Rebel Moon to be a Star Wars movie.
01:19 "Do or do not. There is no try." A lifelong fan of the celebrated sci-fi franchise,
01:26 Snyder began developing the story as a pitch for Lucasfilm. Rebel Moon was meant to be a
01:31 more mature take on George Lucas's history cinematic universe. Unfortunately, the idea
01:40 was axed following Walt Disney Company's acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012. Snyder
01:45 also says that he pitched the idea to Warner Brothers on multiple occasions as both a movie
01:49 and a video game, but they too declined. "No! No!" Fortunately, Snyder's passion project would
01:59 eventually be greenlit by Netflix, with Rebel Moon being reworked into an entirely new universe.
02:05 The homages to Star Wars, however, are said to still be prevalent. "This isn't just pursuit
02:10 of revolution." The story. Set in a peaceful colony on the border of a faraway galaxy,
02:22 Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon is set to be a grandiose tale of survival and resilience.
02:26 "We're just farmers, we're not a threat. They won't just kill us, will they?"
02:30 "You're delusional. Do you think those soldiers will show them mercy?"
02:38 "No!"
02:40 The plot sees this harmonious colony on the moon of Velt face an existential threat against the
02:45 vile and tyrannical Regent Belisarius, controller of the corrupt government's army. "I mean,
02:50 I think the easy way to think about Rebel Moon is a sort of David and Goliath. It's a small
02:54 farming community, and a warship comes to that planet seeking to take their food to feed their
03:01 soldiers." In a desperate bid to defeat the incoming evil, a young female dispatch rider
03:05 Korra sets out to recruit warriors from across the galaxy. "I am a child of war.
03:10 I find warriors to fight with us." "We might stand a chance." Making things personal,
03:19 Korra also seeks redemption for her cryptic past in the leadership of the oppressive government.
03:24 With warriors in neighboring planets ready to fight by her side, resistance becomes paramount
03:29 in Rebel Moon. "I'm here to make you an offer. To give you a chance at redemption."
03:34 "We are beyond redemption." "What about revenge?" "Yeah!"
03:42 Two parts. It turns out Rebel Moon is so epic, it needs two movies to tell its story. "For this
03:48 movie, I think I did, um, close to 4,000 drawings for the two movies together." Broken up into two
03:54 parts, the first installment carries the title "Rebel Moon Part 1, A Child of Fire." Originally,
04:00 however, the script was for just one movie, but that script was a whopping 172 pages long.
04:06 "I'm getting a chance to tell a story that I've been thinking about for quite a while."
04:09 "I was really excited about Zack. I just really value and admire his enthusiasm for the craft."
04:19 According to the chairman of Netflix Films, Scott Stuber, quote, "Under two-hour movies do better
04:24 on the streaming service." This, despite the fact that people binge-watch a series of eight to ten
04:28 episodes in one sitting. For fear of losing character depth, Snyder didn't want the film
04:33 to be less than two hours, though. Thus, a compromise was made to make it two movies.
04:40 The director has also spoken about the potential of spin-offs and sequels should it be successful.
04:45 "Something so powerful that you just want more." "And it's only the beginning."
04:50 The cast.
04:58 "We're searching for soldiers for a fight against the Motherworld."
05:00 "I could help you."
05:03 Rebel Moon is composed of an impressive list of established and respected actors,
05:09 making it a true who's who ensemble. Taking on the role of Korra is Sofia Boutella,
05:14 who is perhaps best known for her role as Gazelle in the action film Kingsman, The Secret Service.
05:19 "Can you hold these, please?"
05:21 Meanwhile, multi-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins voices Jimmy, a sentient mechanized
05:27 robot who is described as a quote, "wild card." "He's a JC class robot, of course,
05:33 voiced by the incredible Anthony Hopkins, who was like a mind-blowing honor to work with and
05:39 makes this creature have a soul." In addition, actor Jimon Honsu portrays General Titus.
05:44 Fans will no doubt recognize Honsu from such films as Guardians of the Galaxy and Shazam.
05:49 The villainous Regent Belisarius will be played by Ed Skrein. Of course, Skrein is no stranger
05:55 to playing a villain, as he was the dastardly Ajax opposite Ryan Reynolds in Deadpool.
05:59 "Did you really think there was a cure for that?" "What?" "You have me."
06:08 Additional members of the vast cast include Charlie Hunnam, Ray Fisher,
06:12 Cleopatra Coleman, Corey Stoll, Jenna Malone, and many, many others.
06:16 Multiple cuts
06:18 Anybody who has followed Zack Snyder's work knows that the director is no stranger to
06:23 extended cuts of his films. "Kal-El, no!"
06:25 The director has revealed that yes, there will indeed be a separate cut of the film.
06:32 This second version, however, will be R-rated.
06:35 "We're gonna have to fight."
06:36 Snyder clarified that the first version of Rebel Moon will be a fantasy adventure that,
06:40 quote, "anyone can enjoy and watch." He says that a second cut will be released at a later date,
06:45 and that one will, quote, "strictly be for adults." The second cut will also have an
06:50 extended runtime and allow for a deeper dive into the world of Rebel Moon.
06:54 Snyder also shared that the director's cut will apply to all the other films in the series.
06:59 "I'm not going to be a part of this."
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07:55 "I'm not going to be a part of this."
07:57 But like Snyder's previous project,
07:59 Army of the Dead, the film will only screen
08:01 for one week before it becomes available
08:03 for home viewing on Netflix.
08:05 That makes the streaming release date
08:07 December 22, 2023.
08:09 Yep, Rebel Moon is set to be a great
08:11 present for movie fans, and all we
08:13 can say is happy holidays to us.
08:15 "It's a holiday movie, obviously.
08:17 There's a lot of Christmas celebrations,
08:19 one of the days they have to fight Santa.
08:21 No, no, that's... that doesn't happen."
08:23 What has you most excited about Zack Snyder's
08:25 Rebel Moon? Let's chat in the comments.
08:27 "I've been planning and working on this
08:29 epic story for over 30 years.
08:31 This has truly been a labor of love."
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08:41 [outro music]