Zack Snyder: Rebel Moon Filming Was Exhausting Process

Zack Snyder has announced he's temporarily stepping away from Rebel Moon to focus on other ventures.

The Star Wars-inspired sci-fi epic Rebel Moon debuted on Netflix in December 2023 with significant fanfare. Set in a galaxy dominated by the imperial Motherworld, its military force, the Imperium, endangers a peaceful community on the moon Veldt. True to its name, a group of insurgents rises to challenge their oppressors.

Despite Netflix's high expectations, Rebel Moon received largely negative reviews from critics. IGN's assessment awarded it a 4/10, stating: "Zack Snyder's space opera suffers from an unoriginal, stitched-together screenplay, underwhelming action set pieces, and a story that lacks depth."

Its sequel, Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver, arrived in April 2024 and faced similar criticism. IGN's review also scored it 4/10, noting: "The second installment of Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon saga, The Scargiver, presents a poorly realized finale to a familiar narrative, featuring weak character development and uninspired action sequences." Later in 2024, R-rated director's cuts for both films were released and were met with a more favorable response.

“I got diverted onto another project—though that’s a good problem to have—for Netflix, I’m developing an LAPD SWAT film,” Snyder shared in a recent Variety interview. “So I thought it best to let the Rebel Moon universe simmer for a while and focus on this new endeavor.”

The Man of Steel director, widely recognized for his contributions to the now-rebooted DC Universe, also discussed the challenges of managing two major productions at once.

“Honestly, producing both movies back-to-back was an incredibly draining and lengthy undertaking. Taking a short hiatus has been refreshing,” he admitted. “I’m deeply passionate about Rebel Moon, but a pause is welcome. We’ll reassess the next steps once I complete my current project.”

Regarding future narratives or potential film adaptations within the Rebel Moon franchise, Snyder remained largely non-committal. “The universe is rich with countless stories. The potential is virtually limitless,” he remarked. “However, as I mentioned, I’m waiting to determine the best path forward, if we decide to proceed at all.”

Nevertheless, Snyder evidently believes the Rebel Moon universe holds boundless opportunities—reinforced by the recent announcement of a video game spinoff, Blood Line, set in the same cosmos.