The SnyderVerse is currently gasping its last breaths. James Gunn is clearing house, with the last vestiges of the franchise Snyder built being shuffled out in The Flash and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, with a giant slate of new movies coming down the pipeline. But you won’t catch Snyder wiping away any tears, as he’s working on what sounds like his dream project.
This is upcoming Netflix original Rebel Moon, a space opera about a peaceful colony threatened by an invasion from a galactic tyrant. In what sounds like a riff on Seven Samurai and The Magnificent Seven, a young woman must assemble a team of powerful off-world warriors to defend her planet. In an interview with Screen Rant, Cary Elwes has teased an “epic” adventure:
“I can’t tell you much, honestly, other than that it’s an epic film. I think that fans will just be so excited when they get a chance to see it. It’s a huge, huge movie, and Zack, as you know, knows how to do epic. So, it was a delightful experience, and I’m excited for the fans to see it. It’ll be out in Christmas, and it’s great fun.”
It’s worth underlining that Netflix has huge ambitions for Rebel Moon. Snyder has said he wants it to be “a massive IP,” with Rebel Moon Part 2 shot back-to-back with the first movie, and Part 3 reportedly already in the early planning stages. Beyond that, both are getting R-rated Director’s Cuts, there’s some kind of RPG based on the universe in development, animated shorts, a graphic novel, and a full novelization.
Whether Snyder can really pull a George Lucas and deliver a modern equivalent of Star Wars remains to be seen, though we’re just happy to see him working with apparent creative freedom, and no annoying executives interfering in his decisions.
Rebel Moon lands on Netflix on December 22, 2023.
