WARNING! This article contains major spoilers for Rebel Moon: Part One!
Zack Snyder’s new sci-fi movie Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire features several Game of Thrones alums in its cast, including two actors who shared the same role on HBO’s hit TV show. Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon has drawn plenty of comparisons to other action franchises, primarily Star Wars, given Snyder once pitched it as a movie within the universe to Lucasfilm, but with a much darker tone. Since its release, Rebel Moon has received conflicting reviews from both audiences and critics. However, the one thing that has saved Rebel Moon is its talented cast, who did a wonderful job of bringing Snyder’s vision to life.
Michiel Huisman and Ed Skrein were an interesting casting decision because Huisman replaced Skrein as Daario Naharis after he left Game of Thrones. In Rebel Moon, Huisman and Skrein are on opposing sides of the war, with Skrein playing the villain and Huisman taking on the good guy role. Rebel Moon may be popularly labeled as Zack Snyder’s Star Wars, but there are some similarities between the sci-fi movie and Game of Thrones that could have inspired his casting decisions. In addition to the two former Daario Naharis actors, Rebel Moon features a few other Game of Thrones veterans who have already proven their acting chops in dark action-heavy franchises.
4 Ed Skrein As Admiral Atticus Noble
Game Of Thrones Character: Daario Naharis
Ed Skrein wears his villain cape once again in Rebel Moon as the ruthless Admiral Atticus Noble. Admiral Noble was the military leader of the Imperium who was tasked by the Regent King Balisarius to track down the Bloodaxe rebels. Unfortunately for Admiral Noble, finding the rebels took longer than he planned, which is why he and his army made a pit stop in the Veldt to replenish their dwindling food supplies. Noble was relentless in his pursuit of the rebels, which led him to find one of the Bloodaxe leaders, Darius. He killed as many rebels as he could before Kora left him for dead, with Noble surviving Rebel Moon‘s ending after being revived.
In Game of Thrones, Ed Skrein joined the cast as Daario Naharis in season 3. However, Skrein’s Daario Naharis was recast in Game of Thrones season 4 and replaced by Michiel Huisman. When Skrein first left Game of Thrones, it was reported that he was going to work on his new movie, Transporter: Refueled. However, the actor later told Entertainment Weekly that the reason for his leaving the show was more political than that. Skrein wanted to play Daario Naharis for a longer period of time, but the politics led him to part ways with Game of Thrones after only appearing in three episodes.
3 Staz Nair As Tarak Decimus
Game Of Thrones Character: Qhono
Staz Nair takes on the role of Tarak Decimus, a prince from Samandrai in Rebel Moon. Following his noble family’s unfortunate run-in with the Motherworld, Tarak owed a life debt to a rancher named Hickman. When Kora and Gunnar sought out Tarak and requested him to join their cause, he initially refused due to his unpaid debt. Kora and Gunnar made a bet that if Tarak could ride the bennu, then his debt would be settled. Seeing as the bennu was his family’s sigil, Tarak managed to ride it and earned his freedom. With such an important role, Nair sees comparatively more screen time and dialogue in Rebel Moon than on HBO’s series.
In Game of Thrones, Staz Nair played the role of Qhono, a Dothraki warrior loyal to Daenerys. Nair joined Game ofThrones‘ cast in season 6 and stayed on until season 8, with Qhono joining Daenerys after witnessing her emerge from the fires unburnt. As the Dothraki’s de facto leader, Qhono was immensely loyal to Daenerys and became a lieutenant in the Targaryen army. Nair’s Qhono was among those who died in Game of Thrones season 8’s Battle of Winterfell, turning into a wight before officially dying when Arya killed the Night King. From a fierce Dothraki bloodrider in Game of Thrones to a freedom-earning bennu rider in Rebel Moon, Nair has tackled some exhilarating action roles in recent years.
2 Michiel Huisman As Gunnar
Game Of Thrones Character: Daario Naharis
In Rebel Moon, Michiel Huisman plays the role of Gunnar, a farmer in charge of harvesting the crops in the Veldt. Gunnar is extremely loyal to his community and believes in selling their grain to the highest bidder, no matter who they are. When soldiers from the Motherworld arrive in the Veldt, Gunnar sees it as an opportunity to sell their surplus grain to them. However, he vastly miscalculates the Imperium’s true intention and soon learns that they want subordination and not a partnership. Since Gunnar had sold their last harvest to the resistance, he joins Kora in the search for a general and an army. Unlike his supporting antihero role as Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones, Huisman’s Gunnar is a major protagonists in Rebel Moon.
Initially, Daario Naharis was played by Ed Skrein in Game of Thrones season 3, but when the show returned in the season 4 premiere, Daario was recast with Michiel Huisman, who took over the role from seasons 4 to 6. Huisman’s portrayal of Daario differed greatly from that of Skrein, with Huisman’s leader of the Second Sons being less rebellious and ominous than the earlier portrayal. After being rejected by Daenerys as a suitor, Huisman’s Daario remained in Meereen while she sailed to Westeros, making Daario’s fate after Game of Thrones‘ season 6 finale unclear. Alongside Jon Snow and Khal Drogo, Huisman’s Daario is one of Daenerys’ most important romantic interests in Game of Thrones.
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1 Stuart Martin As Den
Game Of Thrones Character: Morgan’s Friend/Lannister Soldier
In Rebel Moon, Stuart Martin plays the role of Den. Martin’s Den was known as the best hunter in the farming village who would travel for days to hunt snow elk, taking pride in the part he took in supporting his beloved home. When Kora arrived in the village, she and Den started a casual relationship, though Den was more interested in marrying her and settling down. Den does not get a lot of screen time in Rebel Moon, so not much is known about his character.
However, Martin has a bigger role in the Netflix movie than in Game of Thrones. Stuart Martin made a guest appearance in Game of Thrones‘ season 4 episode “Two Swords” as a Lannister soldier who visits Littlefinger’s brothel. While the name of Stuart’s character is unknown, he is featured in a memorable scene where his friend Morgan’s hand is stabbed by Pedro Pascal’s Oberyn Martell after the pair sing “The Rains of Castamere.”
Rebel Moon
From director Zack Snyder comes Rebel Moon, a sci-fi action movie set in the depths of space and following a colony that is facing the threat of Regent Balisarius. Sofia Boutella plays a warrior charged with recruiting others in the fight against the tyrant, and his unstoppable forces that are dead set on conquest.
- Release Date
- December 22, 2023
- Director
- Zack Snyder
- Cast
- Djimon Hounsou , Sofia Boutella , Charlotte Maggi , Ray Fisher , Jena Malone , E. Duffy , Staz Nair , Doona Bae , Sky Yang , Charlie Hunnam , Cleopatra Coleman
- Genres
- Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Sci-Fi
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
