Rebel Moon’s First Trailer Shows It’s Zack Snyder’s Biggest Film To Date

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labour of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn't exist.

Army of the Dead felt like a breath of fresh air in Zack Snyder's filmography, post-DCEU in his first venture outside the world of supers since Sucker Punch in 2011. Hot on the heels of its success, Snyder and Netflix are re-teaming for another new IP with the sci-fi epic Rebel Moon. Set to release in December, Rebel Moon looks like it'll be the filmmaker's biggest film to date.

Initially devised as part of the Star Wars universe, Moon's mythology sees lone warrior Korra (Sofia Boutella) dispatched across the galaxy to recruit a team of rebels to fight the tyrannical Bloodaxe (Ray Fisher). Press were treated to an early look at the trailer in London this morning and, in many ways, the sensibilities of A Galaxy Far, Far Away are present in the film's visual style and ideas but Snyder's take seems much better placed as its own thing with the filmmaker getting to do things on his own accord out of the studio, franchise machine. Several costumes were also on display and the design work is extravagant and nuanced.

The filmmaker — along with producing partner Deborah Snyder — were on hand to tease the deep-rooted mythology of the world inspired by Heavy Metal magazine and sci-fi of old. In true Snyder fashion, Rebel Moon‘s scale is too ambitious to be contained to just one film and Rebel Moon's narrative will be split across two parts that will release in December 2023 and April 2024, respectively. This first trailer isn't just for Rebel Moon: Part 1 but includes footage from the sequel too, billing the franchise as more of a singular event than individual films.

It's a fittingly bombastic first look that flexes the giant sets, spectacle, and action audience love Snyder for (with some slow-mo added in for good measure) but it also teases the intimacy and humanity within the characters and dynamics too. It feels and looks very much like Star Wars in the way of Seven Samurai in what is sure to be Snyder's grandest, most ambitious endeavour to date. Fans eager to see the filmmaker back in franchise mode will be happy with the elaborate storytelling, delivering a world and lore that could span several more stories should these first two parts prove successful. Rebel Moon: Part 1 releases on December 22nd, 2023 and it looks like it'll be the perfect substitute for the Christmas blockbuster spot left open this year by the absence of Avatar and Star Wars. If anyone can fill those shoes to deliver big cinematic thrills, it's Zack Snyder.

Catch the first trailer below:

Rebel Moon: Part 1 – The Caregiver releases on Netflix on December 22nd, 2023.