Zack Snyder recently shared a the first piece of concept art for his mysterious upcoming sci-fi project for Netflix, Rebel Moon.
Snyder shared the artwork on Vero, writing, "Rebel Moon concept art... we are in full swing heading toward principal photography in a few months." The picture is dark and atmospheric and shows a group of armed characters marching through what appear to be monoliths or statues. Each character has red lights on their clothing and the lead character also wears a cape.
Rebel Moon originally started life 10 years ago as a pitch for a Star Wars movie. Intended to be a darker take on a galaxy far, far away, the acquisition of Lucasfilm and the Star Wars franchise itself by Disney in October 2012 meant that Rebel Moon was sidelined and never made.
When Snyder's production company The Stone Quarry signed a first-look deal with Netflix in July 2021, Rebel Moon was one of the first projects announced. "My goal and hope are to bring as much quality content as I can and do it on a giant scale. Big projects and big movies," said Snyder of the deal. The Stone Quarry is also run by Snyder's wife, Deborah Snyder, who added, "For us, it was so important to find a partnership that was based on mutual respect."
Snyder also spoke of his big hopes for Rebel Moon. "This is me growing up as an Akira Kurosawa fan, a Star Wars fan," he said. "It's my love of sci-fi and a giant adventure. My hope is that this also becomes a massive IP and a universe that can be built out. I've spent the last two or three years building out this universe. Every corner has to be painted in. I've been doing designs, constantly drawing and really cultivating its fertile ground to make this world fully realized."
The lead role in Rebel Moon will be played by Kingsman and Star Trek Beyond actor Sofia Boutella. Inspired by the movie Seven Samurai, Rebel Moon is set in a colony on the outskirts of the galaxy. Things are peaceful, until the colony is threatened by the tyrannical Regent Balisarius. Desperate to protect themselves, the colonists send a young girl (Boutella) with a mysterious past to nearby planets so she can recruit warriors to aid in the fight against Balisarius.
Snyder is writing the film, alongside Shay Hatten and Kurt Johnstad. It is due to begin filming in 2022.
Source: Vero