Filmmaker Zack Snyder has brought audiences macho Spartans (300), zombies (Dawn of the Dead and Army of the Dead), and dark versions of superheroes (Watchmen, Batman v Superman). Now, Snyder will direct an epic space journey in the vein of Star Wars. While the plot of Snyder's new Netflix film, Rebel Moon, contains few details at this time, the director will surely bring his visual creativity and intense action to the project.
The film also contains an intriguing ensemble cast, including Sofia Boutella, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, and Cary Elwes. While Snyder's new movie aims to be like a Star Wars or Dune, he has an opportunity to create an ambitious and violent R-rated spectacle that is unlike any other space saga ever made.
A Concise Plot
Snyder's stories are always intriguing in terms of imagery, but his plots can sometimes be thin or convoluted. For instance, Watchmen is a dark and complex film about the nature of flawed superheroes, but many would argue that it's a bit overlong and has too many characters and subplots. His Spartan epic 300 has great action, but some would say the plot involving war and dying with honor is small and repetitive. If Snyder wants Rebel Moon to succeed, the plot needs to be concise and mind-bending.
The last thing Snyder intends to do is copy or rip off Star Wars and Dune because the filmmaker wants his space movie to be raw, colorful, and violent. Of course, there will be battles between good and evil characters, but perhaps there will also be themes involving identity and control. For instance, there's an image of a woman with horns dressed like a dominatrix, perhaps signifying that there will be various forms of female representation.
A Strong Ensemble Cast
Bringing together a powerful cast of characters has always been one of Snyder's greatest strengths, especially with Gerard Butler as Leonidas in 300, Henry Cavill's Superman, Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman, or Jackie Earle Haley's Rorschach and Billy Crudup's Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen. Sofia Boutella is the female protagonist named Kora in Rebel Moon, and would be a great choice for a heroine since she's played tough women in Atomic Blonde, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and The Mummy (2017).
Djimon Hounsou and Anthony Hopkins (who both worked together in Steven Spielberg's Amistad) are also a part of the film. Djimon will portray a General named Titus, who appears to be a villain or a leader seeking to engage in war, due to his serious demeanor in a recent image. Djimon is no stranger to space and villainy since he played a baddie in Guardians of the Galaxy, while Hopkins will be the voice of a battle robot named Jimmy. Hopkins always has a perfect voice for any role, along with an immaculate presence, even in big-budget films like the Thor series.
Ed Skrein will be the primary antagonist named Balisarius, who seeks to destroy a harmonious colony near the edge of the galaxy. Skrein has portrayed an evil, cynical villain before, such as Ajax in Deadpool. Ray Fisher is Blood Axe, perhaps one of the good warriors fighting against Balisarius. Fisher's role as Cyborg in Zack Snyder's Justice League was powerful and fully realized, and this film could continue Fisher's strong collaboration with Snyder.
Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy), Cary Elwes (Saw, The Princess Bride), Jena Malone (Stepmom), Corey Stoll (Ant-Man), Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones), and several other cast members have been included. Their roles are unknown at this time, but this diverse cast will surely bring plenty of star power to Rebel Moon.
The Film's Atmosphere
Snyder has some experience with space and outer worlds, especially due to the director's vision of Superman's birthplace, Krypton, in Man of Steel. Snyder's Krypton included warships, heavy armor and artillery, weapons like guns/blasters and knives, and plenty of machinery and communicative devices. Many of these elements could be included in the setting and atmosphere of Rebel Moon, especially if battles are to be played out on or near the moon.
Zack Snyder's Justice League also included ancient gods such as Zeus, Ares, and Artemis, who fought alongside the Amazons and Atlanteans to protect Earth during their battle against Darkseid and the Parademons. Rebel Moon may or may not contain gods, but there will likely be supernatural beings and entities with powerful abilities, along with tough human characters.
The original concept for this film was Snyder's intention to create his own Star Wars movie and to make his version of that galaxy more explicit and mature. According to some YouTube videos, Snyder is said to be heavily inspired by the late comic book artist Frank Frazetta, who is known as the "Godfather of fantasy art," responsible for creating illustrations for not only comic book covers, but also album and book covers, paintings, and sci-fi/fantasy comics magazines (such as Heavy Metal). Frazetta's art includes illustrations of strong male and female warriors (some of which bare plenty of skin), as well as fantastical creatures, many of which resemble highly stylized images displayed in Zack Snyder's Justice League and 300 due to the director's interest in dark and violent comic book stories.
Whether Rebel Moon will be rated PG-13 or a heavy R rating, Snyder will deliver explosive and hardcore action in his new feature. After the success of Army of the Dead, Snyder could continue his winning streak with Netflix, embracing fans both in streaming and in theaters, and marking the beginning of a new franchise.