Zack Snyder's next film is the upcoming science fiction epic, Rebel Moon. Produced by Netflix and stacked with an impressive cast featuring Sofia Boutella, Anthony Hopkins, Djimon Hounsou, Charlie Hunnam and Cary Elwes, among many others, Rebel Moon -- much like Army of the Dead, which Snyder also made for Netflix -- will give the filmmaker even more room to create and finesse his own fictional world from scratch. Considering some of Snyder's past work -- like his original story Sucker Punch -- as well as DC's Man of Steel, Rebel Moon promises to be a massive expansion of the kind of otherworldly, epic visuals the director is passionate about bringing to life.
Echoing a variety of sources -- namely Star Wars, Samurai films and Westerns -- Snyder's Rebel Moon is a story of a small band of outsiders joining forces to stand against a tyrannical, oppressive foe. The film has the potential to further prove why directorial control is so important within today's big studio system. The difficulties that Snyder encountered in his partnership with both Warner Bros. and DC are well known, affecting films like Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, as well as his personal life. This is just one of the many examples of studio intervention in recent years, instances in which the respective studio essentially declares a vote of no confidence in the work and vision of the particular director they've hired, placing the value of financial success over the value of storytelling. This is something fellow DC director David Ayer's Suicide Squad can attest to, as his film was also subjected to substantial cuts and changes, and it's unlikely that his version of the film will ever be released.
Zack Snyder Has Been Busy Making His Own Universes
After completing his four-hour cut of Justice League in 2021 -- which Warner Bros. used the film to promote the launch of HBO Max -- Snyder essentially parted ways with DC. Although interest in his return to DC remains high, from all accounts it appears that Snyder is busy putting together his own IP and fine-tuning his own stories and characters, unencumbered by Hollywood oversight. Following Zack Snyder's Justice League, Snyder teamed up with Netflix and released a violent, visually unique blend of heist drama and zombie action in Army of the Dead (echoing his start in filmmaking, with his first movie being a remake of George A. Romero's Dawn of the Dead, with a script by James Gunn). Having only been released in May of last year, Army of the Dead already has a prequel film highlighting one of its central characters, and an extended universe is currently in development.
Snyder's recent journey from superheroes to zombies to sci-fi -- however different these particular genres might be -- displays his ability to establish and navigate very specific, detailed fictional worlds. Netflix has already green-lit a sequel to Rebel Moon, giving Snyder ample room (for the time being) to develop the various worlds, factions, stories and characters he'll be introducing in Rebel Moon. With filming over and post-production well underway, the concept art, set photos and costume tests shared by Snyder offer a continuously developing peek at the film. Coming from a visual arts background, Snyder's cinematic process begins with his own storyboards (where he basically illustrates the entire movie) and concept artwork drawn by other artists. From the art that's been released to date, Rebel Moon promises to showcase a fully-realized universe.
Snyder's Recent Films Show that Studios Should Trust Their Directors
Upon release, Army of the Dead was one of the most successful films to stream on Netflix. Snyder's involvement with the project extended beyond directing it; he also co-wrote the screenplay and served as its cinematographer. Rebel Moon will see Snyder return to this creative trifecta, underscoring his passion for what he does as well as his investment in the work. Without oversight from Warner Bros., Snyder seems to be flourishing and growing as both director and storyteller, having found a company that trusts his ideas and output.
Snyder doesn't make movies for everyone, but that's nothing new by now. What he does -- and arguably very well -- is orchestrate large-scale, emotional spectacles within worlds that are entirely his own. The scenes with Jor-El fighting General Zod on Krypton in Man of Steel represent his ability to throw the audience directly into the fray and quickly acquaint them with a wholly new world. Zack Snyder's Justice League -- while maintaining his penchant for grandeur and drama -- took time to make its central characters as alive and real as possible within the scope of one film. Rebel Moon, whether a big hit or not, is Netflix putting trust into someone they hired. As Snyder continues his career, his time at Warner Bros. and this new chapter at Netflix will hopefully serve as a lesson to both audiences and other filmmakers on the importance of creative vision and directorial authorship.