Zack Snyder Dishes on Rebel Moon: A Star Wars Spectacle like Never Before!

Summary

Rebel Moon, directed by Zack Snyder, was originally conceived as a more mature take on the Star Wars universe but was rejected by Lucasfilm.

Snyder acknowledges the inevitable comparisons to Star Wars and welcomes the similarities between the two franchises. Rebel Moon's plot, characters, and weapons share similarities with Star Wars, but Snyder is grateful that his film has the freedom to exist independently from the limitations of the established Star Wars canon.

Zack Snyder discusses the comparisons between Rebel Moon and Star Wars. Originally envisioned as a more mature interpretation of the Star Wars universe, Snyder's concept was turned down by Lucasfilm after its acquisition by Disney. As a result, Rebel Moon underwent revisions and established its own unique sci-fi universe, set to be released on Netflix as two separate parts, Child of Fire and The Scargiver, starting in December.

Prior to the release of the recent Rebel Moon trailer, Screen Rant had the opportunity to interview Snyder on the set of his ambitious sci-fi project. When asked about the inevitable comparisons to Star Wars, Snyder expressed his embrace of the iconic sci-fi franchise's influence on Rebel Moon. Furthermore, he revealed his satisfaction in not being constrained by the pre-existing Star Wars canon. Read his complete response below:

I believe it's impossible to create a sci-fi movie nowadays without drawing comparisons to Star Wars in some capacity. I am open to discussing where this movie fits in popular culture and its place in relation to the Star Wars legacy. Star Wars has dominated in terms of fresh ideas and capturing the audience's love for its universe throughout its evolution. The fan base has grown alongside the movies, passing the love for the franchise from one generation to the next. I understand the deep affection for Star Wars and its canonical status, as well as its tendency to remain unchanged. This is probably why I am approaching this project in the way I am, as we have the freedom to establish our own rules.

We were in the initial stages of pitching and discussing the movie. Additionally, the sale had just taken place, and I had recently completed Man of Steel while being in post-production. With preparations for BvS underway, I couldn't have possibly declined that project. However, I did express my willingness to work on this movie at some point. Nevertheless, once the sale was finalized, a concrete plan was already in motion for the future of Star Wars.

How Rebel Moon Compares To Star Wars

Rebel Moon's plot revolves around Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious protagonist leading a resistance against the tyrannical ruling force called the Mother World. This storyline bears striking similarities to Star Wars, with Snyder creating a sci-fi universe complete with unique planets, mythology, spaceships, alien species, monsters, and robots. Kora recruits Nemesis (Bae Doona), a cyborg swordmaster wielding a weapon that closely resembles a lightsaber. Given Snyder's deliberate incorporation of key elements from Star Wars, comparisons between Rebel Moon and the iconic franchise will likely persist.

Rebel Moon bears similarities to Dune and inevitably invites comparisons to the Star Wars franchise as it originated as a pitch for a Star Wars film. Snyder, however, openly acknowledges and embraces these parallels, a characteristic that aligns with his tendency to incorporate his influences. Whether Rebel Moon can successfully establish its own distinct identity separate from the dominant Star Wars franchise remains uncertain.