Netflix has announced that it will release a director’s cut of Zack Snyder’s upcoming sci-fi epic Rebel Moon, which will feature close to an hour of extra content. The director’s cut will be a “legitimate extended universe version” that will give fans more insight into the story and characters of the two-part space opera.
Rebel Moon: A Two-Part Epic
Rebel Moon is a sci-fi fantasy film that is inspired by Star Wars and Dune. It is set in a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy that is threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella). A mysterious stranger living among the villagers, played by Ed Skrein, becomes their best hope for survival.
The film is divided into two parts: Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire, which will be available to stream on Netflix on December 22, 2023; and Rebel Moon: The Scargiver, which will premiere on April 19, 2024. The film also stars Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, Cleopatra Coleman, Jena Malone, Fra Fee and Anthony Hopkins.
Zack Snyder’s Vision for Rebel Moon
Zack Snyder is known for his visually stunning and action-packed films such as 300, Watchmen, Man of Steel and Justice League. He is also known for his director’s cuts or extended versions of his films that offer more depth and detail to his stories.
In an interview with Tudum, Netflix’s PR site, Snyder revealed that he had always wanted to make a director’s cut of Rebel Moon, and that Netflix supported his vision from the start.
“The director’s cut is close to an hour of extra content, so I think it’s a legitimate extended universe version. You really get to see a lot. It’s just more painted-in all the way,” he said.
He added that the director’s cut would be a “settle-in deep dive” that would appeal to big fans who want to discover more about the world and characters of Rebel Moon.
“And with Netflix, we shot scenes just for the director’s cut. So in that way, it’s really a revelation because it gives that second kick at the can for big fans, like a real discovery that they would not [otherwise] get. I’m really excited about it!” he said.
The Difference Between Rebel Moon and Justice League
Snyder’s director’s cut of Rebel Moon is different from his director’s cut of Justice League, which was released on HBO Max earlier this year after a long and arduous campaign by fans who wanted to see his original vision for the superhero film.
Snyder had to leave Justice League in 2017 due to a family tragedy, and Joss Whedon took over the reshoots and editing of the film. The theatrical version of Justice League was widely criticized by fans and critics for being inconsistent, rushed and tonally different from Snyder’s previous films.
Snyder’s cut of Justice League was four hours long and featured many scenes and characters that were cut or changed in the theatrical version. It also had a darker tone and a different aspect ratio than Whedon’s version.
Snyder said that he had to fight for his director’s cuts in the past because studios did not want them or appreciate them.
“I don’t know how I got into this director’s cut thing, but what I will say about it is that, for me, the director’s cuts have always been something I had to fight for in the past and nobody wanted it. It was this bastard child that I was always trying to put together because they felt like there was a deeper version,” he said.
Netflix’s Support for Zack Snyder
Netflix, on the other hand, has been supportive of Snyder’s vision and creative freedom. The streaming giant has given him the budget and the platform to make his director’s cut of Rebel Moon without any interference or restriction.
Snyder said that Netflix was “incredible” and “amazing” to work with, and that he felt “blessed” to have their backing.
“They were like, ‘We love this movie. We love you. We want you to make this movie the way you want to make it.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, that’s cool.’ And they were like, ‘And by the way, we want you to make a director’s cut of it too.’ And I was like, ‘What? Really? OK, awesome.’ And they were like, ‘Yeah, and we’ll pay for it. And we’ll give you the time to do it. And we’ll give you the platform to do it.’ And I was like, ‘This is incredible. This is amazing.’ I feel so blessed to have their support and their trust,” he said.
What to Expect from Rebel Moon
Rebel Moon is expected to be a visually stunning and action-packed film that will showcase Snyder’s signature style and vision. It will also be a film that will explore themes such as freedom, rebellion, destiny and sacrifice.
Snyder said that Rebel Moon was a passion project for him that he had been developing for years. He said that he wanted to create a sci-fi fantasy film that would appeal to fans of Star Wars and Dune, but also have its own identity and originality.
“I’ve always loved sci-fi and fantasy. I grew up with Star Wars and Dune and all those amazing movies. And I always wanted to make my own version of that. Something that would be epic and grand and emotional and exciting. Something that would have its own mythology and lore and history. Something that would be unique and original, but also familiar and nostalgic,” he said.
He added that Rebel Moon would be a film that would appeal to both casual viewers and hardcore fans who want to immerse themselves in a new universe.
“I think Rebel Moon is a film that anyone can enjoy. It has a great story, great characters, great action, great visuals. It has everything you want from a sci-fi fantasy film. But it also has a lot of depth and detail for those who want to go deeper into it. It has a lot of secrets and mysteries and Easter eggs for those who want to explore it more. It has a lot of potential for expansion and continuation for those who want more of it,” he said.