Zack Snyder's newest space-faring epic, Dune adaptation. Inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa and the Star Wars franchise, Snyder's space opera will feature an ensemble cast including the likes of Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, and Ray Fisher. Rebel Moon was originally pitched as a Star Wars film, which would have been a more mature take on the typical Star Wars story, but Snyder has since developed Rebel Moon ten-fold since the 2012 acquisition of Lucasfilm by the Walt Disney Company.
Detailing the story of a colony on the edge of the galaxy thrown into turmoil at the hands of the tyrant Balisarius (Ed Skrein), Snyder is planning Rebel Moon to be the birth of a new franchise that can be built upon for years. Its initial connection to the Star Wars franchise is undeniable, as Snyder wanted Rebel Moon to take place within the universe of Jedi and Sith, but recent developments have revealed a more complex relation to Denis Villeneuve's acclaimed adaptation of Dune. Innovative filmmakers seem to be infatuated with exploring the depths of space, Rebel Moon is set to be the next rung on the ladder.
Why Rebel Moon Is More Like Dune Than Star Wars
Originally thought to be a one-part epic adventure, Rebel Moon was announced in February 2022 to be taking place over two parts, with the first half being released on Netflix on December 22, 2023. Concept art and promotional images have also been released for Rebel Moon, which seems to show a film that is as visually spectacular as Dune, which won Academy Awards for Visual Effects, Cinematography, and Production Design, among others, at 2022's Oscars. Tonally, Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon and Dune sound strikingly similar, as both feature a tyrant waging war on peaceful colonies in the depths of space for their own personal gain.
Rebel Moon's Dune Comparison Shows How Huge Its Scale Is
The follow-up to Denis Villeneuve's Dune is scheduled for release on November 3, 2023, which will see Paul Atreides (Timotheé Chalamet) team up with Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen to seek revenge on those who destroyed his family. Dune is such an epic story that it needs to be told in at least two parts, so the fact that this technique is being used for Rebel Moon suggests that it will be just as massive a spectacle. Rebel Moon's ensemble cast highlights the fact that the film will be huge, so perhaps wouldn't have fit into the Star Wars franchise anyway, especially after the divisive Star Wars sequel trilogy.
Zack Snyder's plans for Rebel Moon not only feature two adventures into the lives of Boutella's Kora and the warriors she collects for her battle but set the stage for a new space-faring franchise to develop. Interestingly, by doing this, Snyder may take his Star Wars pitch and build it into a franchise that rivals and potentially even overshadows the Star Wars franchise. Taking inspiration from Dune could be the best way around this, as Denis Villeneuve's astounding journey to Arrakis could lay the foundation for a proper Dune franchise to form as well. Rebel Moon is one of the most highly-anticipated projects of 2023.
