Two “Rebel Moon” movies are coming soon to Netflix. This marks the launch of Zack Snyder’s own sci-fi fantasy franchise inspired by “Star Wars.” However, everyone is glad that it didn’t become “Star Wars” movies as originally planned…
About 15 years ago, Zack Snyder had the idea for a “Star Wars” movie – but George Lucas showed no interest in it. Even when the “Man Of Steel” director approached Lucasfilm again after the Disney takeover, he was again turned down. At that time, they had completely different plans. After that, Snyder carried the idea around with him – until he found a partner in Netflix. With “Rebel Moon: Child of Fire” and “Rebel Moon 2: The Scar Maker,” he has now made two films in one fell swoop for the streaming service – and there could be many more if they are successful.
The story is strongly influenced by “Star Wars” and Akira Kurosawa’s “The Seven Samurai”. It centers on a small colony that is terrorized by a tyrant. So a young woman sets out to find some warriors on other planets who might join her in opposing the despot.
While Snyder was originally very upset that Lucasfilm did not want his idea, he now seems to be very happy about it. At least this is what his co-stars revealed in interviews.
“FUCK ‘STAR WARS!”: HAPPY ABOUT THE LUCASFILM CANCELLATION
Producer Eric Newman was on board from the beginning, and was initially excited by Zack Snyder’s idea to make a movie that was effectively “The Seven Jedi” – which fell through. When Snyder came forward again years later to tackle the project again, and now without Lucasfilm, his first reaction was, “Fuck ‘Star Wars’!” So now the biggest inspiration was not George Lucas’ legendary saga, but the ’80s Canadian animated sci-fi film “Heavy Metal” – because they envisioned a similar “R-rated science fantasy,” the producer told Slashfilm.
Snyder’s wife and business partner Deborah Snyder told the same medium that she was even happy when the project fell through the first time. Because she had “never wanted” “Rebel Moon” to become a “Star Wars” film. She had already told her husband at the time, “I think your hands are going to be so tied with everything this brand is.” The possibilities given now, she said, are much better – though she, too, seizes on the fact that the approach is more “science fantasy than science fiction. “
Villain actor Ed Skrein summed up the freedoms they now have with “Rebel Moon” to Screenrant possibly perfectly back when he visited the set: The film, he said, is like “‘Star Wars’ with sex, violence and swear words.” When he first arrived on the set, he said, all he could think was, “Yeah, Zack is as sick in the head as I am. Yeah, that’s crazy.”
We won’t know just how crazy Snyder’s ideas really are for a few months. “Rebel Moon: Child of Fire” comes to Netflix on December 22, 2023. The sequel, “Rebel Moon 2: The Scar Maker,” will then launch on the streaming service on April 19, 2024.
