After nearly 30 years in the making, Zack Snyder’s ambitious space opera, Rebel Moon, is now streaming on Netflix as a two-part director’s cut.
This project, initially conceived in 1997 as The Five with co-writer Kurt Johnstad, draws inspiration from Seven Samurai, Star Wars, and Heavy Metal magazine.
Snyder’s journey to bring Rebel Moon to life has been marked by numerous twists and turns. In 2012, he pitched the concept to Lucasfilm as a potential Star Wars project. Later, he explored developing it as both a video game and a movie with Warner Bros., and even considered a TV series with Narcos producer Eric Newman.
Snyder’s departure from Warner Bros.’ DC universe in 2017 opened a new door with Netflix, thanks to his long-time collaborator Scott Stuber, then the streamer’s film chief. Netflix, eager to compete with traditional film studios, enlisted Snyder to create original franchises. This partnership first yielded the successful Army of the Dead and Army of Thieves in 2021.
However, Snyder had already reunited with Johnstad to finally bring Rebel Moon to life. They meticulously planned multiple versions of the film, considering what content would fit within Netflix’s PG-13 guidelines for the initial two-hour chapters.
Consequently, certain scenes, like the more violent introduction of Ed Skrein’s character, Admiral Noble, were reserved for the director’s cut releases.
Today, Rebel Moon — Part One: Director’s Cut (204 minutes) and Rebel Moon — Part Two: Director’s Cut (173 minutes) make their debut on Netflix. Snyder emphasized the importance of these extended cuts in an interview, saying, “We knew before shooting that it was not going to be [in Part One’s PG-13 cut].
I couldn’t really conceive of a PG-13 version of the scene that really got to the why of it, and so we cut it. It was always going to be in the R-rated version only, so we all made peace with that.”
This dedication to preserving his uncompromised vision has resulted in a film that truly reflects Snyder’s original intent. The director’s cuts not only offer a more complete narrative but also significantly alter the movie’s tone, providing a richer and more immersive experience for viewers.
With Rebel Moon, Zack Snyder continues to push the boundaries of storytelling, delivering a space opera that promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
