Zack Snyder’s newly announced upcoming movie, Rebel Moon, has the perfect opportunity to avoid what killed the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Originally a pitch Snyder made to set place in the Star Wars universe, Rebel Moon is a rework of Snyder’s vision for a Star Wars movie. Though the idea of a Star Wars film directed by Zack Snyder is appealing, the fact that the film isn’t tied to the franchise may be the key to it succeeding.
There are few concrete details about the plot of Rebel Moon. The movie is set to place in a sci-fi world, the focus on a small out-of-the-way colony that faces an invasion by a warlord known as Belisarius. To protect the peaceful colony, the main character, played by Sofia Boutella, must go to neighboring planets to recruit warriors to fight for their cause. Set to be released on Netflix, the movie promises to bring more of Snyder’s signature bombastic style to the small-screen, following the successful release of other streaming projects such as Army of The Dead.
While it would be interesting to see how the original Star Wars version would have turned out, the fact that Snyder doesn’t have to abide by the constraints of the Star Wars Universe means he can create a Star Wars clone Disney couldn’t. One of the issues with the Star Wars sequel trilogy was that it relied too much on previous lore and references to carry the story. Cameos and connections to characters from the original or prequel trilogies were the main focus, leaving little room for the movies to expand into genuinely innovative territory. Using nostalgia as a crutch was what ultimately brought the trilogy down and while this wasn’t the only problem that the sequels had, it is a problem that Snyder doesn’t have to deal with. Expectations from fans of how planets, or creatures, or old characters should be handled aren’t something Snyder has to consider. With a unique and fresh world, Rebel Moon has the potential to avoid the mistake Disney made with the sequels, simply because it isn’t tied to the Star Wars universe.
As this will be a Netflix movie, the expectation Disney has to face when releasing a movie won’t constrain Snyder’s creative vision. Disney movies usually have to be catered towards general audiences, but Snyder has a wider array of choices now for how he wants the action sci-fi film to be portrayed, similarly to when Zack Snyder’s Justice League was released. Rebel Moon has the freedom to become whatever Snyder chooses and with his hopes of it kickstarting a new cinematic universe, sci-fi fantasy fans should look forward to what he has to offer.
With filming to start at the beginning of this year, new details such as more Rebel Moon concept art as well as casting updates and plot details will be coming soon. Snyder has been able to show his direction and writing skills countless times and with the intriguing idea of a new Star Wars-inspired movie, the sci-fi film has a lot of promise, without the expectations of the Star Wars franchise resting on its shoulders. With a new world and characters to explore, Rebel Moon is sure to become even more interesting as the months go by.