Sofia Boutella opens up about the negative reviews for Zack Snyder’s sci-fi epic Rebel Moon. Snyder’s two-part intergalactic tale released its first part on Netflix in 2023, telling the story of a band of resistance fighters taking a stand against a fascistic regime. While the feature received poor reviews, the budding franchise will return in 2024 with an extended R-rated cut and a sequel subtitled Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver.
Boutella revealed to Vulture how she viewed the critical responses upon Rebel Moon‘s release. While Boutella was initially prepared for criticism, some of the harsher reviews did leave her somewhat overwhelmed and feeling sympathetic for those in the production, though she firmly stated she is proud to have been a part of it. Check out Boutella’s full explanation below:
I always thought that I was fully armed to take on those punches, and then I read the critics that came down on Rebel Moon and it really affected me. And I’m just gonna be honest about it. I feel like I’m carrying it for everybody that cared so much about this project, and that’s what affected me. Not the way I look. If anything, I’ve been pretty lucky and people like my work in it, but the movie was criticized. It really affected me for all of those who put so much heart, tears, and sweat in this project. It’s hard to see something being demolished to that extent. I’m proud to have been part of it, and if there is no more Rebel Moon, it will be a very important part of my life that I will defend forever.
The Rebel Moon Franchise’s Fate Isn’t Sealed Just Yet
Rebel Moon is getting a multimedia rollout
Within the Rebel Moon reviews, many critics appreciated Snyder’s visuals and the foundations that he established for the franchise’s world. The narrative came under closer scrutiny for its derivative elements and characters. Among audiences, the feature did manage to quickly rise to the top of Netflix’s charts for its first week on the service, but would gradually slip down to eighth place by its fourth week, securing a recorded estimate of 78 million views as of January 2024. Despite mixed results at best, however, the immediate future of the Rebel Moon franchise feels secure.
Alongside its second half releasing in April and the R-rated cut set to join both installments on the service soon after, Netflix has wasted no time in expanding Rebel Moon beyond the confines of a movie’s runtime. There are already novels and comic books exploring the backgrounds of various Rebel Moon characters, and more could follow. The franchise has received an incredibly varied and extensive multimedia platform that could win over naysayers.
While Boutella may have been left somewhat disheartened by harsher reactions to Rebel Moon, Netflix’s massive investment into the franchise could give Snyder’s sci-fi epic hope. Its strong foundational world-building could set the stage for The Scargiver to offer a more welcoming story following the first movie’s set-up. As such, though things may seem dark for Snyder’s potential franchise, its already extensive expanded media and a stronger response to the sequel and extended cut could see future Rebel Moon stories be brought to the screen.
Watch Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire on Netflix.
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.
- Director
- Zack Snyder
- Release Date
- December 22, 2023
- Studio(s)
- The Stone Quarry , Grand Electric
- Distributor(s)
- Netflix
- Writers
- Shay Hatten , Kurt Johnstad , 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
- Franchise(s)
- Rebel Moon
- prequel(s)
- Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver
- Budget
- $90 Million
