Netflix’s highly anticipated space opera, Rebel Moon, is generating immense excitement with its official trailer, unveiled during Netflix’s Geeked Week. The film, set for release next month, promises a thrilling two-part series that captivates audiences with its action-packed sequences and intricate worldbuilding.
The three-minute trailer treats fans to a glimpse of the cinematic spectacle awaiting them, setting the stage for an epic space opera experience on Netflix.
It opens with a monologue that gives the backstory of how the protagonist and rebel leader Kora came to find herself on the moon of Veldt. The inhabitants welcome her with open arms. Eventually, she comes to love living in the colony. Unfortunately, her new found home is soon threatened by the tyrannical forces of the Imperium at the behest of the Motherworld.
The trailer depicts the fear the forces of the Imperium strike in the hearts of Veldt’s farmers and chronicles Kora’s heroic attempt to save them from the soldiers’ brutality. It also follows her mission to gather a band of rebels – Kai, General Titus, Nemesis, Tarak, and Milius – to fight back against the Motherworld.
The trailer weaves a compelling narrative with a story of rebellion set in the farthest reaches of space, with a story that’s somewhat similar to that of the Star Wars franchise, which is hardly a surprise given the creator Zack Snyder was inspired by George Lucas’s famous space opera as well as the works of Japanese auteur Akira Kurosawa.
In fact, Snyder originally set the film in the Star Wars universe and pitched it to Lucasfilm as such. Unfortunately, it was not interested, likely because Snyder was adamant about making an R-rated film, which is something that Disney has typically shied away from until recently. This led to Snyder shopping the project around until it eventually found a home on Netflix.
Ironically, the film Snyder eventually made with Netflix has a PG-13 rating, a departure from his R-rated vision. However, he has plans to release an R-rated extended cut later in the future.
If the trailer is anything to go by, Rebel Moon could be Zack Snyder’s magnum opus, which is no mean feat when you consider his illustrious portfolio includes Man of Steel, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, 300, and Army of the Dead.
Rebel Moon was originally supposed to be one film. However, Netflix opted to divide it into two parts after recognizing the expansive nature of Snyder’s narrative. Vice President Ori Marmur explained that the story would benefit from being presented as “two pieces versus one film.”
More importantly, the upcoming film marks the start of a Star Wars-like franchise spanning different media formats. An animated series, a podcast, and a comic book are already in development, underlining Netflix’s confidence in the potential of this universe.
If the first film delivers on the promise of its trailer, then the franchise will have got off to a good start and Netflix will have an intellectual property with the potential to generate billions of dollars. Conversely, if the film falls short of the company’s expectations, it will have made a grave misstep that could potentially amount to the loss of hundreds of millions of dollars.
With Snyder steering the project, Netflix has entrusted the franchise to a filmmaker of exceptional caliber and thereby giving it the best chance of success. The streaming giant may draw comfort from the historical parallels, considering that Star Wars, initially rejected by many studios, eventually became one of the highest-earning entertainment franchises of all time after Fox decided to support Lucas’s vision.
Rebel Moon will have a limited theatrical run in the week leading up to its Netflix debut. The film will screen in selected theaters in the US, the UK, and Canada from December 15 to December 21. The following day, December 22, Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire will make its streaming debut on Netflix with its sequel, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, following on April 19, 2024.
