Rebel Moon (also known as Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire) is a 2023 American epic space opera film directed by Zack Snyder from a screenplay he co-wrote with Kurt Johnstad and Shay Hatten, based on a story Snyder conceived.[5][6][7][8] The film features an ensemble cast that includes Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Michiel Huisman, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bae, Ray Fisher, Cleopatra Coleman, Jena Malone, Fra Fee, Ed Skrein, and Anthony Hopkins. The film is set in a fictional galaxy ruled by the Motherworld, in which its military, the Imperium, threatens a farming colony on the moon Veldt, and Kora, a former Imperium soldier, ventures on a quest to recruit warriors from across the galaxy to make a stand against the Imperium before they return to Veldt.
Rebel Moon had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 15, 2023, ahead of its streaming debut on December 21, 2023, by Netflix. The film received generally negative reviews from critics.
An extended cut is set for release in early 2024, while a direct sequel, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, is scheduled for release on April 19, 2024.[9][10][11]
Plot[]
Template:More plot In a distant galaxy, the Motherworld is ruled by a noble king and his niece, Princess Issa, known to her subjects as "The Redeemer". Issa had once hoped, with the king's support, to usher in a new age of peace and prosperity but a sudden attack (supposedly carried out by anti-royalists) kills her, the king, and the latter's daughter. The king's son and only living member of the royal family, Balisarius, ascends the throne and establishes the Imperium, transforming the Motherworld into a militaristic state devoted to the conquest of new worlds. Among the many new recruits to join the Imperium is Kora, who quickly forges a reputation as a ruthless and intelligent field commander.
Years pass, and as the Motherworld evolves into a powerful empire, Kora lives a peaceful life as a farmer on the independent planet Veidt with her close friends Gunnar and Hagen. The inhabitants of Veidt are visited by Imperium forces led by Atticus Noble, Balisarius' advisor and a high-ranking admiral. Atticus orders the public execution of a defiant villager and declares his intention to force Veidt's populace to submit. Later that night, Kora is forced to kill a group of Imperium soldiers after one of them harasses a local farm girl named Sam, nearly causing her neighbors to turn on her out of fear.
Cast[]
- Sofia Boutella as Kora, a former member of the Imperium who rallies warriors from across the galaxy to fight against the Motherworld.
- Djimon Hounsou as Titus, a former general of the Imperium recruited to lead the fight against the Motherworld.
- Charlie Hunnam as Kai, a mercenary and starship pilot hired by Kora.
- Michiel Huisman as Gunnar, a farmer and friend of Kora who joins her in their quest against the Motherworld.
- Staz Nair as Tarak, a nobleman-turned-blacksmith, with the ability to bond with animals of nature and rally them in combat, who is recruited by Kora.
- Doona Bae as Nemesis, a cyborg swordmaster recruited by Kora.
- Ray Fisher as Darrian Bloodaxe, a warrior recruited by Kora. He works alongside his sister Devra, the two of them leading an insurgent group that fights against the Imperium.
- Cleopatra Coleman as Devra Bloodaxe, Darrian's sister recruited by Kora.
- E. Duffy as Millius, a refugee warrior recruited by Kora.
- Anthony Hopkins as Jimmy, the last member of a race of mechanical knights that served under the fallen king, recruited by Kora.[12]
- Dustin Ceithamer as the stand-in of Jimmy
- Alfonso Herrera as Cassius, Gunnar's team warrior[13]
- Jena Malone as Harmada, a lethal spider humanoid terrorizing the mining village of Daggus.
- Ed Skrein as Atticus Noble, Balisarius' right-hand man, a high-ranking admiral of the Motherworld and leader of the Imperium.
- Fra Fee as Regent Balisarius, a tyrannical ruler of the Imperium and high-ranking member of the Motherworld.
- Ingvar Sigurdsson as Hagen, a friend of Kora.
- Charlotte Maggi as Sam, a kind and hard-working farm girl, who warmly welcomes any outsiders that come to her village.[14][15]
- Corey Stoll as Sindri, a village chief on the moon Veidt.
Additionally, Stuart Martin, Cary Elwes, Rhian Rees, and Ray Porter, who acted out and recorded the film's script for Snyder to listen to while preparing the day's shoot,[16] have been cast in undisclosed roles.[17]
Production[]
Development[]
Rebel Moon is inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa, the Star Wars films and Heavy Metal magazines; its logo is a homage to the latter.[18] The project began development as a Star Wars film that Snyder had pitched to Lucasfilm, shortly after the sale of Lucasfilm to The Walt Disney Company in 2012. This pitch was to be a more mature take on the Star Wars universe.[19] Snyder also pitched the idea as both a video game and a film to Warner Bros. Pictures "a couple of times".[20] The project was later redeveloped by producer Eric Newman and Snyder, first as an original television series, before settling on a film by Netflix.[7]
Casting[]
On November 2, 2021, it was announced that Sofia Boutella had been cast in the film, in the lead role.[21] On February 9, 2022, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Ray Fisher, Jena Malone, Staz Nair and Doona Bae joined the cast. Later that month, Stuart Martin and Rupert Friend joined the project.[22][23] Fisher first became aware of the project around 2019 or 2020 back when Snyder planned it to be a TV show, being shown whiteboards and showing his interest when Snyder explained that those were for a "little space thing" he was working on.[24] On April 8, 2022, Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll, Michiel Huisman and Alfonso Herrera joined the cast.[25] On May 16, 2022, it was announced that Ed Skrein had replaced Friend as the film's main antagonist due to scheduling conflicts, with Cleopatra Coleman, Fra Fee and Rhian Rees joining the project.[26] On June 8, 2022, it was announced that Anthony Hopkins had joined the cast as the voice of Jimmy, an impossibly sentient JC1435 mechanized battle robot and one-time defender of the slain king.[27]
Filming[]
Filming commenced as of April 19, 2022,[28] with Snyder sharing the first images from the set on Twitter that day.[29] Snyder also served as cinematographer.[2] It ran until December 2,[30] with 152 days of filming taking place in California, to tap into $83 million in qualified spending and tax incentives.[31]
Post-production[]
On August 20, 2023, the titles for the two parts were reported to be A Child of Fire and The Scargiver, respectively.[32] Two days later, Zack Snyder appeared at gamescom opening night to present the teaser trailer for the two parts.[33] The trailer, which was also released online, confirmed that the first and second parts of Rebel Moon would be subtitled Part One: A Child of Fire and Part Two: The Scargiver, respectively.[34]
Music[]
In January 2023, Tom Holkenborg was revealed to be composing the score. Holkenborg has previously contributed to the score for the Snyder-directed Man of Steel (2013) and scored Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021) and Army of the Dead (2021), and the Snyder-produced 300: Rise of an Empire (2014).[1]
Release[]
Rebel Moon had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 15, 2023,[35] before its streaming debut on December 21, 2023, by Netflix.[36] Snyder revealed that the film will have an R-rated extended cut, set to release before The Scargiver, in addition to its original PG-13-rated cut.[37][38][11]
Critical reception[]
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 25% of 3.9 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 73/10. On the website, the critics' consensus reads, "Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire proves Zack Snyder hasn't lost his visual flair, but eye candy isn't enough to offset a storyline made up of various sci-fi/fantasy tropes." Using a weighted average calculator, Metacritic assigned the film a score of 32 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. First reviews of the film were mostly negative, praising its worldbuilding and action sequences but criticizing its storytelling, character development and derivative nature.[39]
Variety writer Owen Gleiberman commented, "while eminently watchable, [Rebel Moon] is a movie built so entirely out of spare parts that it may, in the end, be for Snyder cultists only."[40] Clarisse Loughrey of The Independent gave the film 1/5 stars, calling it "a film populated by some of the Zack Snyder's Justice League filmmaker's worst impulses: a mess of imagery, some of it attempting to shock, congregated largely around the idea of what might look good in a trailer."[41] The Guardian's Charles Bramesco also gave the film 1/5 stars, writing, "the finished product has only the vaguest contours of ambition, diminished by a half-assedness dinkifying the latest CGI-jammed saga to decide the fate of the universe."[42]
Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph gave the film 2/5 stars, noting its similarities to Star Wars and saying that "this first half of Snyder's diptych... is more of a loosely doodled mood board than a functioning film – a series of pulpy tableaux that mostly sound fun in isolation, but become numbingly dull when run side by side."[43] The Messenger's Jordan Hoffman gave it a score of 4/10, writing, "As a space opera, it has none of the weight of Dune, none of the characterizations of Guardians of the Galaxy, none of the madness of Jupiter Ascending or The Fifth Element and none of the pep of Star Wars."[44]
Fred Topel of United Press International was more positive, calling the film "an entertaining filtering of science fiction and general storytelling tropes through the lens of creator/director Zack Snyder."[45]
Future[]
Sequels[]
In February 2022, it was revealed that Rebel Moon would be a franchise that begins with a two-part film; each part planned to be shot back-to-back.[17] By August of the same year, the follow-up was officially confirmed with the title Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, and scheduled for release on April 19, 2024.[46][34] In April 2023, it was revealed that the first part was planned to be the beginning of a trilogy.[47]
In November 2023, Snyder confirmed that developments for additional installments are ongoing, while stating that he intends for a "trilogy of sequels" to be released.[48] The filmmaker confirmed the following month that he was working on the script for a third feature film.[49][50]
Other media[]
In July 2021, Snyder stated that his intent is for Rebel Moon to become "a massive IP and a universe that can be built out."[7] In March 2023, Snyder revealed that a role-playing video game based on Rebel Moon was in development, alongside an animated short and a graphic novel.[51][52] A novelization of the film written by V. Castro will be published by Titan Books on December 26, 2023.[53] In July 2023, Snyder revealed that he had plans for a TV series focusing on Balisarius.[54] In August 2023, Snyder announced at Gamescom that Super Evil Megacorp was developing a four-player co-op action game that would be exclusively available on the Netflix Games platform.[55] In September 2023, Evil Genius Games sued Netflix for terminating a deal that allowed them to produce a tabletop role-playing game set in the Rebel Moon universe.[56]
A four-issue prequel comic entitled Rebel Moon: House of the Bloodaxe by writer Magdalene Visaggio and artist Clark Bint will be published by Titan Comics in January 2024.[57] Set five years before the events of the film, the comic depicts backstory for the characters of Devra and Darrian Bloodaxe, leaders of a band of outlaw revolutionaries. In November 2023, a narrative-podcast, an animated comic book, and an animated series were announced to be in development with each project taking place chronologically before the feature films.[58] The animated short is set to tell the story of the Kali, the "shadowy figures" who power the Motherworld's "most dangerous technology".[12]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tom Holkenborg (Junkie XL) to Reteam with Zack Snyder on Rebel Moon (18 January 2023).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Template:Cite Instagram
- ↑ Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire (15).
- ↑ Breznican, Anthony (June 6, 2023). Zack Snyder Goes Galactic: Exclusive First Look at Rebel Moon.
- ↑ Vary, Adam B. (2021-07-06). Zack Snyder to Make Sci-Fi Epic Rebel Moon for Netflix (en-US).
- ↑ Jackson, Matthew (20 April 2022). Zack Snyder reveals first look at Star Wars-esque Netflix epic Rebel Moon as filming starts.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Kit, Borys (2021-07-06). Zack Snyder Sets Next Movie, Sci-Fi Adventure Rebel Moon, at Netflix (Exclusive) (en-US).
- ↑ Rebel Moon.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (2023-03-24). Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Will Have Extended R-Rated Versions For Both Parts (en-US).
- ↑ Scott, Ryan (2023-03-24). Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Is Getting Extended R-Rated Versions For Each Of Its Two Parts [Exclusive] (en-US).
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Hill-Paul, Lucas (2023-12-13). Zack Snyder on Rebel Moon's fascist nightmare and 'crazy' moment with Ed Skrein (en).
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 'Rebel Moon' director Zack Snyder unravels secrets of his universe (en).
- ↑ Alfonso Herrera: ¿Qué personaje tiene en la película 'Rebel Moon' y cuándo se estrena en Netflix? (es).
- ↑ Lacey, Kellie (February 9, 2022). REPORT: Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Character Details Surface. Retrieved on November 19, 2023.
- ↑ New “Rebel Moon” Images Widen Scope on Zack Snyder’s Sweeping Two-Part Sci-Fi Epic (23 August 2023). Retrieved on November 19, 2023.
- ↑ Seibold, Witney (August 23, 2023). Why Zack Snyder Recorded His Actors Reading The Rebel Moon Script Aloud.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Kit, Borys (2022-02-09). Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Bae Doona, Ray Fisher Join Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon (en-US).
- ↑ I Just Watched The Rebel Moon Teaser While Sitting Next To Zack Snyder (August 22, 2023).
- ↑ Why Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Didn't Become A Star Wars Movie: 'I Knew It Was A Big Ask' – Exclusive Image. Bauer Media Group (March 7, 2023).
- ↑ Everything We Learned on the Set of Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon (August 23, 2023).
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (2021-11-02). Zack Snyder Taps Sofia Boutella To Star In His New Sci-fi Adventure Rebel Moon At Netflix (en-US).
- ↑ Kroll, Justin (February 9, 2022). Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou And Ray Fisher Among Those Starring In Zack Snyder's Next Film Rebel Moon For Netflix (en-US).
- ↑ Kit, Borys (28 February 2022). Rupert Friend, Stuart Martin Join Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon (Exclusive).
- ↑ Jirak, Jamie (17 December 2023). Rebel Moon: Ray Fisher Reveals How Zack Snyder Approached Him for Role.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (8 April 2022). Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll Join Zack Snyder's Sci-Fi Fantasy Rebel Moon (Exclusive).
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (16 May 2022). Ed Skrein Replaces Rupert Friend In Zack Snyder's Netflix Sci-Fi Epic Rebel Moon; Cleopatra Coleman & More Also Set.
- ↑ Grobar, Matt (June 6, 2022). Anthony Hopkins Joins Zack Snyder's Netflix Sci-Fi Adventure Pic Rebel Moon.
- ↑ Ankers, Adele (2022-04-20). Zack Snyder Posts First Images From Rebel Moon Set (en).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Snyder, Zack [@ZackSnyder] (April 19, 2022). "Day 1 #RebelMoon. It's begun. t.co/1j1RDmYYTM" (Tweet). Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023 – via Twitter.
- ↑ Mishra, Shrishty (December 3, 2022). Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Wraps Filming (en-US).
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (2021-08-23). Beverly Hills Cop 4 Among 23 New Features to Film in California (en-US).
- ↑ Rebel Moon Movies Get New Titles; Part 2 Eying Release in April 2024 (en) (20 August 2023).
- ↑ Webster, Andrew (August 23, 2023). Zack Snyder shows the first trailer for his Netflix movie Rebel Moon. “Today’s trailer was revealed as part of Gamescom Opening Night Live in Germany.”
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 White, James (August 22, 2023). First Teaser For Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.
- ↑ Zack Snyder’s ‘Rebel Moon – Part One’ Sets Limited 70mm Theatrical Run in Four Major Cities Ahead of Netflix Debut. Variety (November 7, 2023).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.SAVE THE DATES | 2023 Films Preview | Official Trailer | Netflix. Netflix. January 18, 2023. Archived from the original on May 11, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (2023-03-24). Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Will Have Extended R-Rated Versions For Both Parts (en-US).
- ↑ Scott, Ryan (2023-03-24). Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Is Getting Extended R-Rated Versions For Each Of Its Two Parts [Exclusive] (en-US).
- ↑ Campbell, Christopher (December 15, 2023). Rebel Moon: A Child of Fire First Reviews: This Isn't the Sci-Fi Epic You're Looking For (en-US).
- ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (15 December 2023). 'Rebel Moon — Part One: A Child of Fire' Review: Zack Snyder's Sci-Fi Epic Knocks Off Star Wars and a Dozen Other Sources.
- ↑ Loughrey, Clarisse (2023-12-15). Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon is a borderline incoherent shambles – review (en).
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Bramesco, Charles (December 15, 2023). "Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire review – Zack Snyder's Netflix disaster". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ↑ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Collin, Robbie (December 15, 2023). "Rebel Moon – Part One: Netflix's $150 million sci-fi epic is just Star Wars with scowls". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ↑ Hoffman, Jordan (2023-12-15). 'Rebel Moon — Part One' Review: Zack Snyder’s Star Bores Comes to Netflix (en).
- ↑ Topel, Fred (December 15, 2023). Movie review: 'Rebel Moon' style distinguishes Zack Snyder epic (en).
- ↑ Robb, David (22 August 2022). Joker & Rebel Moon Sequels Among 18 Pics Set For California Tax Credits; Expected To Generate $915M In Production Spending.
- ↑ Sperling, Nicole (April 3, 2023). Netflix's Approach Shifts, Pushing Content That Can 'Pop'.
- ↑ Shepherd, Jack (November 30, 2023). Zack Snyder says Rebel Moon could have a "trilogy of sequels" – but that’s not as confusing as it sounds. Total Film: GamesRadar. Retrieved on December 2, 2023.
- ↑ Vincent, Maxance (December 1, 2023). Rebel Moon 3 Plans Confirmed At Netflix (& Zack Snyder's Surprisingly Far Along With It). Screen Rant. Retrieved on December 2, 2023.
- ↑ Kit, Borys (November 29, 2023). Zack Snyder’s Next Cut: No Capes Allowed. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on December 2, 2023.
- ↑ Egan, Toussaint (2023-03-20). Zack Snyder let slip he's making a 'ridiculous scale' RPG video game based on his new movie (en-US).
- ↑ Prasad, R. A. Karthik (2023-03-20). 'Magic & Madness' - Zack Snyder teases Rebel Moon universe's world-building, Netflix also developing a graphic novel and animation short for sci-fi franchise (en-US).
- ↑ Rebel Moon: The Official Movie Novelization (en). Titan Books.
- ↑ Travis, Ben (July 3, 2023). Zack Snyder Has Endless Movie And TV Plans For Rebel Moon: 'We Can't Really Hit The Bottom' – Exclusive.
- ↑ Rees, Lewis (August 23, 2023). Super Evil Megacorp are working on a Rebel Moon game.
- ↑ Spangler, Todd (September 28, 2023). Netflix Sued Over Canceled Game Deal for Zack Snyder's 'Rebel Moon' Movies.
- ↑ Johnston, Rich (October 20, 2023). Magdalene Visaggio Writes Official Prequel To Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon.
- ↑ Dick, Jeremy (November 3, 2023). Netflix's Rebel Moon Is Getting an Animated Series Spinoff.
External links[]
- Rebel Moon on NetflixLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 36: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Rebel Moon at IMDbLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 36: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
| v - e - dZack Snyder | |
|---|---|
| Films directed | Dawn of the Dead (2004) • 300 (2006) • Watchmen (2009) • Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010) • Sucker Punch (2011) • Man of Steel (2013) • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) • Justice League (2017) • Gwen and Dan (2019) • Oh Yeah Cartoons! The Movie (2019) |
| Films produced | 300: Rise of an Empire (2014) • Wonder Woman (2017) • Gwen and Dan (2019) • Wonder Woman 1984 (2020) |
| See also | 75 Studio • The Stone Quarry • Deborah Snyder |
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