Everything We Know So Far About the Zack Snyder Film

Streaming powerhouse Netflix will be teaming up with Zack Snyder after the unprecedented success of his movie Army of the Dead. After Zack’s lengthy run at Warner Bros and DC, he’s found a new home with the streaming service promising an array of exciting new projects. His next film Rebel Moon has been touted to be an epic two-parter with the likelihood of spin-off properties. A lifelong Star Wars fan, Snyder initially intended Rebel Moon as a Star Wars movie. He had the idea to pitch Rebel Moon as a more mature take on the universe created by George Lucas. That idea was shut down after Walt Disney Co. acquired LucasFilm in 2012. Snyder then set up a deal with Deborah Snyder’s production company Stone Quarry and Netflix for Rebel Moon to be reworked into an entirely new universe.

Rebel Moon represents a slight shift for Zack Snyder into a distinct sci-fi subgenre that is set in a peaceful colony on the border of a faraway galaxy. The one-time peaceful colony faces an existential threat from the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. Residents of the colony in a bid to repel this great evil send out a young female dispatch rider named Kora who has a checkered past to solicit the help of different warriors from neighboring planets. Below are all the details regarding the cast, trailer, release date, plot, and everything we know so far for the upcoming sci-fi fantasy.

Editor’s Note: This piece was updated on August 22.

When Is Rebel Moon Releasing?

Part 1 of Rebel Moon titled A Child of Fire will hit Netflix just in time for Christmas on December 22, 2023. This has become a trend for Netflix to release a buzzy title in the days leading up to Christmas. In the past, hit films such as Don’t Look Up, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, Bird Box, and 6 Underground were released on the service during the holiday season.

Part 2, which is titled The Scargiver will release on April 19, 2024.

Will Rebel Moon Have a Theatrical Release?

Rebel Moon will have a limited theatrical release in the weeks before it lands on Netflix. As of right now, it is unknown when that’ll be and how many theaters will screen the film. Snyder’s previous film with Netflix, Army of the Dead, screened for one week in May 2021 across 600 theaters in the US. Rebel Moon will likely follow a similar route.

Is There a Trailer for Rebel Moon?

The first teaser trailer for Rebel Moon was unveiled during a presentation at Gamescom 2023 on August 22, 2023. Running at over three-and-a-half minutes long, the trailer gives fans a real good look at the world of the film, as well as all the high-octane action and slow-motion that many have come to expect from Snyder.

The first pieces of footage for the film were released in a sizzle reel for Netflix’s 2023 film slate.

A behind-the-scenes featurette for Rebel Moon was unveiled during Netflix’s Tudum event on June 17, 2023, previewing the film’s massive scope and several of the cast-member’s reactions to working with Snyder on the film.

Related:‘Rebel Moon’: Zack Snyder Compares His New Sci-Fi Movie to ‘Man of Steel’

Who is the Cast of Rebel Moon?

Sofia Boutella plays the role of Kora, the young woman burdened with the task of marshaling a defense force to stand against the forces of Regent Balisarius. Boutella is best known for her role as Gazelle in the action spy comedy Kingsman: The Secret Service. She is also known for her portrayal of Jaylah in the Sci/Fi action film Star Trek Beyond. Her other film credits include Atomic Blonde, Climax, Hotel Artemis, and The Mummy.

Two-time Oscar winner Anthony Hopkins will be playing the voice of Jimmy, a JC1435 sentient mechanized robot who once protected a defeated king. Snyder described the character as a ‘wild card’ who is ‘on a journey of self-discovery.’ Snyder also compared Jimmy to Lancelot, stating that he brings an Arthurian element to the sci-fi fantasy film.

Fans familiar with Hopkin’s work would suggest his role on Rebel Moon is keeping in line with the career trajectory of the acclaimed thespian. Anthony Hopkins is one of England’s most renowned and respected actors and is best known for his role as the frightening Hannibal Lecter in the film The Silence of the Lamb – as well as its sequels Hannibal and Red Dragon. He also played the role of Mission Commander Swanbeck in the film Mission: Impossible II. He won his second Academy Award in 2021 for his leading role in Florian Zeller’s acclaimed drama The Father.

Djimon Hounsou will be on the cast of Rebel Moon, as General Titus. Details about this character are relatively still unknown. Hounsou is an actor of incredible talent and expertise – he is best known for his roles in films like Blood Diamond and Amistad. Hounsou also has starred in several MCU titles including Guardians of the Galaxy and Captain Marvel as Korath the Pursuer. His other movie credits include Shazam, In America, and Furious 7.

Ed Skrein plays the role of Regent Balisarius, the ferocious and cunning interplanetary warlord who plans to lay siege on a colony in a distant galaxy. Skrein is best known for his role as Daario Naharis in the third season of Game of Thrones. He is also quite popular for playing the villain Ajax (Francis) in Deadpool. Skrein’s other movie credits include Born A King, Alita: Battle Angel, and Barry Jenkins‘ If Beale Street Could Talk.

Other cast members of Rebel Moon include Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) as Kai, a mercenary starship pilot, Ray Fisher (Zack Snyder’s Justice League) & Cleopatra Coleman (The Last Man on Earth) as Darrian & Devra Bloodaxe, Michiel Huisman (The Flight Attendant) Gunnar, a farmer and friend of Devra, Jena Malone (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) as Harmada, a spider warrior, Staz Nair (Game of Thrones) as the blacksmith Tarak, Doona Bae (Kingdom) as the cyborg swordmaster Nemesis, newcomer E. Duffy as Millius, and Fra Fee (Hawkeye) as Regent Balisarius. Also in the cast in undisclosed roles are Stuart Martin (Army of Thieves), Corey Stoll (Ant-Man), Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride), Alfonso Herrera (Ozark), Rhian Rees (Halloween), and Ray Porter (Zack Snyder’s Justice League).

What is Rebel Moon About?

Zack Snyder’s penchant for grandiose storytelling is put on display in Netflix’s new epic space sci-fi film Rebel Moon. The story is set in motion when a relatively tranquil colony on the edge of a galaxy is threatened by the vile Regent Balisarius. In a desperate attempt for redemption, habitants of the colony dispatch a young woman with a cryptic past to seek out warriors from neighboring planets to aid in the resistance.

The official synopsis reads:

From Zack Snyder, the filmmaker behind 300, Man of Steel, and Army of the Dead, comes REBEL MOON, an epic science-fantasy event decades in the making. When a peaceful colony on the edge of a galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors — outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed.

Related:‘Rebel Moon’: Zack Snyder Shares Make-Up Test Footage During Netflix Geeked Week

When Did Rebel Moon Film?

Filming for Rebel Moon commenced in April 2022 and wrapped on December 2, 2022. Production mainly took place in California.

Who is Making Rebel Moon?

The producers for Rebel Moon are Zack Snyder along with Deborah Snyder and Eric Newman for his company Grand Electric. The epic sci-fi fantasy will be produced by Eric Newman (who produced Snyder’s first feature debut), Deborah Snyder, and Zack Snyder. The script for Rebel Moon is co-written by Kurt Johnstad who worked on 300 with Snyder and Shay Hatten who also co-wrote with Snyder on the Army of the Dead.

Snyder will also be handling the cinematography for the film, as he did with Army of the Dead. Tom Holkenberg, who worked with Snyder on Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Zack Synder’s Justice League, and Army of the Dead, will be composing the film’s score. Academy Award nominee Dody Dorn, who also worked with Snyder on his last two films, will be editing the film.

Was Rebel Moon Always a Two-Parter?

As mentioned earlier, Rebel Moon is broken up into two parts, with this first filming being part one. Deborah Snyder did explain how the script went from being one film to two, saying:

Originally, the script was one movie, but it was in ‘Zack form. It was 172 pages. (Chairman of Netflix Films, Scott) Stuber was like, ‘On the service, under-two-hour movies really do better for some reason,’ even though you’ll binge-watch a series of eight episodes. “Zack said, ‘If you ask me to make this less than two hours, I’m going to lose all the character. You won’t care about these people. It’s a character story about how people can change, and redemption, and what are you willing to fight for…’ So he said, ‘What if I give you two movies?

Will Rebel Moon Have a Director’s Cut?

Zack Snyder is no stranger to extended cuts, and Rebel Moon will continue the tradition of the now iconic “Snyder Cut.” The director has revealed that an R-rated version of Rebel Moon will be available to stream, saying:

The first version of Rebel Moon to hit screens will be a fantasy adventure that anyone can enjoy and watch. The later cut will be strictly for adults. I think for fans of mine and people who are ready to take a deeper, harder dive, that’ll be fun for them.