Rebel Moon: Everything We Know about Zack Snyder and Netflix's epic space opera
Zack Snyder's sprawling scifi saga begins this holiday season; we'll tell you all we know ahead of the release
Hot off the success of Army of the Dead and its sequel, Army of Thieves, Zack Snyder and Netflix are once again teaming up. But this time, they're setting their sights into space, both in terms of ambition and the literal subject of their next collaboration.
Rebel Moon, a science-fiction tale that borders on mythological in scale, is a multi-part streaming event that fans will get to check out this winter. Ahead of the release, Popverse has put together everything we know about Rebel Moon; check it out below.
What is Rebel Moon about?
Rebel Moon tells the story of a galaxy in the grips of the monstrous Imperium, a military wing of a fascist state known as the Mother World. After a time serving this war machine, a young woman named Kora decides to take up arms against the oppressors, seeking redemption for once serving them. Like films The Magnificent Seven or Seven Samurai, Kora puts together a ragtag team of warriors who may be the galaxy's only hope of freedom.
While this plot may sound similar to a certain other David and Goliath space opera, the team behind its creation makes us well aware it is not. And they couldn't be happier about that fact.
How many chapters make up Rebel Moon?
There are two segments in the overarching story of Rebel Moon. The first is titled A Child of Fire, likely referring to the character of Kora (don't quote me on that though, it's just a guess). The second film, out a couple months later, will be called The Scargiver. Your guess is as good as mine as to which person, robot, or weapon gave it that name.
Is there a Rebel Moon trailer yet?
Yep! It's right above this text!
When can I watch Rebel Moon?
Well, remember, Rebel Moon is not one streaming event; it's two. Part One of the space fable will be streamable December 22, 2023. The second item on the cosmic bill is due April 19, 2024. Both of these pieces, as you've probably already gathered, will stream exclusively on Netflix.
For now, that is.
Who is in Rebel Moon?
As you know from having just watched the trailer, there are a couple Snyder regulars in the cast, including Ray Fisher, who famously played Cyborg in Zack Snyder's Justice League. I've listed the rest of the major cast members below, along with their character names and whether they're on the side of the rebels or Imperium.
- Sofia Boutella as Kora - ex-Imperium, now Rebel
- Charlie Hunnam as Kai - Rebel
- Djimon Hounsou as General Titus - ex-Imperium, now Rebel
- Jenna Malone as Harmada - Rebel
- Michiel Huisman as Gunnar - Rebel
- Fra Fee as Regent Balisarius - Imperium
- Cleopatra Coleman as Devra Bloodaxe - Rebel
- Ray Fisher as Darian Bloodaxe - Rebel
- Ed Skrein as Admiral Atticus Noble - Imperium
- Anthony Hopkins as Jimmy (a robot) - Rebel
You read that last one correctly; Anthony Hopkins is providing the voice of a robot (er, mechanical knight) named Jimmy. Now, a robot named Jimmy might sound a little childish to you, which is why our next question's got to be:
What is Rebel Moon rated?
Netflix has granted both chapters of Rebel Moon the rating of PG-13. Specifically, they ended up at that label because of, in their words, "sequences of strong violence, sexual assault, bloody images, language, sexual material and partial nudity."
In this case, you might want to start the younger viewers in your household off with Star Wars before Rebel Moon. However, if you're a fan of Snyder's other, more mature stuff such as Army of the Dead and 300, you probably already knew what you were getting into.
Of course, it's just the regular versions of the movies we're talking about. We've said nothing yet of the extended cuts.
Does Rebel Moon have an extended cut?
In classic Snyder form, yep. You may remember your pal and mine Graeme McMillan reporting on just that subject in August of this year. According to Netflix, the director's cut for both A Child of Fire and The Scargiver will add an extra hour of content to the films. We also know, via /Film, that these extended cuts will be rated R, though no specific reason is given (maybe it's space-Batman saying the space-F-word).
What we don't know, however, is when the director's cuts of the movies will be avilable. In terms of dates, we don't know anything beyond the releases of the standard versions. And speaking of further plans...
Will there be more Rebel Moon movies?
If Zack Snyder had anything to say about it, this answer would be definitely. In the very first interview that Snyder gave about the film (with Borys Kit of The Hollywood Reporter), Snyder shared his hopes for much more than just a two-part tale.
"It’s my love of sci-fi," said the filmmaker of the epic, "and a giant adventure. My hope is that this also becomes a massive IP and a universe that can be built out."
To his credit, Snyder's putting his money where his mouth is. This year, Snyder told Empire that he 'can't really hit the bottom' in coming up with plans for more Rebel Moon stories. Already the auteur has plans for a TV series focusing on the villainous Balisarius and a third part to round out the two movies coming to Netflix.
But Snyder's plans don't amount to a studio deal just yet. Though Netflix is down to invest a little more in the idea (a video game based on the films is coming out through Netflix Games), the streaming giant will likely wait to see how the first two flicks are receieved before ordering up any more.
Rebel Moon Part One: A Child of Fire will be streaming December 22, 2023, followed by Part Two: The Scargiver on April 19, 2024. Both movies will be exclusively on Netflix.
Rebel Moon is just one of a couple of incredible cinematic events on the way. Check out Popverse's list of all major upcoming films to see more.
