Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon is set to release on Netflix, and the franchise will look to revive the acting careers of two prominent cast members affected by 2017 box office failures. Snyder’s new epic will be split into two parts: Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire in December 2023 and Rebel Moon: Part Two – The Scargiver in April 2024. Despite the expansive story being teased, Rebel Moon isn’t based on existing IP.
Rebel Moon is described as a space opera, following a woman named Kora who sets out to recruit warriors around the galaxy to fight against an oppressive government known as the Mother World. As shown through Rebel Moon‘s trailer details, the franchise is already being compared to other expansive series like Star Wars and Dune. Snyder’s epic tale features numerous planet locations, a variety of mysterious creatures, and intriguing fantasy elements. It also has an impressive cast of characters, and two standouts have something in common.
Rebel Moon Is Reviving Sofia Boutella & Charlie Hunnam’s Blockbuster Fortunes
Kora, the character at the center of Rebel Moon, will be played by actress Sofia Boutella. Meanwhile, Charlie Hunnam is set to play a critical role as Kai, a pilot hired by Kora for her quest. While both look to be significant figures in Snyder’s big project, it’s interesting that Rebel Moon is essentially resurrecting Boutella and Hunnam’s acting careers following 2017 movie blunders.
Sofia Boutella had roles in Kingsman: The Secret Service and Star Trek Beyond, but her big break was supposed to be 2017’s The Mummy. The actress played Princess Ahmanet in the Tom Cruise movie meant to launch Universal’s Dark Universe series. However, The Mummy‘s poor reception and box office failure resulted in the entire cinematic universe being canceled. Though Boutella appeared in Atomic Blonde that same year, her performance in The Mummy surely hurt her career trajectory, but Rebel Moon will potentially change that.
Charlie Hunnam experienced something similar with another 2017 box office bomb, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. After making a name for himself as Jax in Sons of Anarchy, Hunnam had promising appearances in movies like Pacific Rim, Crimson Peak, and The Lost City of Z. He hoped to showcase himself as a true leading man by playing King Arthur. Despite initially being planned as a six-film series, the sequels were scrapped after King Arthur underperformed. Hunnam continued acting, but he hasn’t been linked to a major project until Rebel Moon came along.
Why Rebel Moon Is Still A Blockbuster (Despite Being A Netflix Movie)
Not only could Rebel Moon get Boutella and Hunnan’s careers back on track, but the two-part movie also gives the duo another chance at front-lining a blockbuster. Both movies encompassing Snyder’s epic are releasing on Netflix, but they are undoubtedly worthy of being called blockbusters. Sure, the term “blockbuster” is commonly used for movies released in theaters, but it’s technically any title with immense hype that’s being linked to commercial success.
As time has gone, streaming services like Netflix are debuting more and more blockbuster-level movies. That said, Rebel Moon is probably the most ambitious, especially in comparison to Snyder’s other Netflix franchise, Army of the Dead. In addition to its budget of $166 million, Snyder has a lot of hope that the success of the two movies will launch a multimedia universe. A Rebel Moon video game and a TV spinoff are already in the works, but that sounds like just the start. Still, the future of an expansive IP will rely on the success of the first two Rebel Moon movies.
Rebel Moon’s Stars Make Zack Snyder’s Sci-Fi Movie A Bigger Gamble
Considering the level of hype surrounding Rebel Moon, it’s safe to say that Netflix has very high expectations for the two movies and beyond. Sofia Boutella and Charlie Hunnam have shown they can be great actors, but their 2017 flops certainly play into Snyder’s upcoming sci-fi epic being a big gamble. By banking on two leads who experienced adverse effects because of recent Hollywood flops, the fate of Rebel Moon and the franchise’s future is even more risky.
Thankfully, Boutella and Hunnan are being joined by notable names like Djimon Hounsou, Michiel Huisman, Ray Fisher, and Jena Malone, to name a few. All of which have been connected to popular franchises with loyal fanbases. Anthony Hopkins also has a role in Rebel Moon, so the noteworthy ensemble cast could give Snyder’s upcoming movies a star power boost that might positively affect Boutella and Hunnan. If all works out, the duo could become the faces of Zack Snyder’s biggest achievement to date, while 2017 will just be a forgotten blip on their long list of film credits.
