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Zack Snyder Opens up About Pitching the Rebel Moon Story as a Star Wars Movie Ten Years Ago

Discussion in 'SWNN News Feed' started by SWNN Probe, Jul 4, 2023.

  1. SWNN Probe

    SWNN Probe Seeker

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    When Disney acquired Lucasfilm back in October 2012, they announced they would be making Episodes VII-IX, but they also shared plans to make spin-off films set in a galaxy far, far away. (One of them was already in development under the previous regime, a Han Solo origin story with Lawrence Kasdan writing.) That decision opened the doors to a plethora of filmmakers to pitch their own takes on the Star Wars galaxy, from John Knoll pitching a story that would eventually morph into Rogue One, to Guillermo del Toro advocating for a Jabba the Hutt story à la The Godfather. One of the proposals that Lucasfilm received was by 300 and Watchmen director Zack Snyder.



    The story was based on something Snyder had been mulling for a while, and though it never made it into any stage of development, he kept the idea and eventually brought it to Netflix under the name Rebel Moon. The film has now been split into two parts after the streamer realized the story was too big for just one installment, and it's already been shot, with the first part gearing up for release on December 22. The original story follows Sofia Boutella as Kora, the emerging leader of a group of outcasts and refugees on a farmer-populated moon that circles a gas giant. They are rebelling against the authoritarian Imperium. Does that sound familiar?



    [​IMG] REBEL MOON. Sofia Boutella stars as Kora, the reluctant hero from a peaceful colony who is about to find she's her people's last hope, in Zack Snyder's REBEL MOON. Cr. Clay Enos/Netflix © 2023



    Rebel Moon is the focus of the latest issue of Empire Magazine, and as part of the interview that the filmmaker did with the publication, Snyder talked about pitching his idea to Lucasfilm back in the day, and how he actually knew it wouldn't fly with the studio:



    As he then added, he realized, once he started developing the idea, that it probably wasn't a good fit for the Star Wars galaxy:



    [​IMG] REBEL MOON: Director/writer/producer Zack Snyder on the set of Rebel Moon. Cr. Clay Enos/Netflix © 2023



    In the end, though, he got what he wanted. His ongoing deal with Netflix gives him enough freedom to explore any ideas he has, gloves off. In fact, Zack Snyder has already announced that the film that will air on the platform on December 22 will be one “that anyone can enjoy and watch,” as he told Vanity Fair last month. At a later, unspecified date, he will release a recut, harder-edged version of the movie: “I think for fans of mine and people who are ready to take a deeper, harder dive, that’ll be fun for them,” he said.



    In hindsight, there is also an argument to be made, even before seeing the film, that it was eventually best not to leave it in Lucasfilm's hands. Few projects ever went any deep into development, and after what happened with Solo and Lucasfilm getting cold feet about standalone projects, it's likely that Snyder would have never had the chance to make the film. It seems like he's softened up about making it R-rated since he will be releasing a PG-13 version first, but obviously, the one he will feel more passionate about is the harder-edged cut. That would have never happened under Lucasfilm, and probably, nor should it. Star Wars is not that franchise, and it probably shouldn't be either.



    And with all that said, Star Wars fans who enjoy Zack Snyder's films will have something to look forward to now. In December, we will be four years without a new Star Wars movie. As far as the overall story, Rebel Moon will be as close as we get to it for another 2.5 years.



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    #1 SWNN Probe, Jul 4, 2023
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  2. DarthSnow

    DarthSnow Sith in the North
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    This all seems... very odd to me. I feel like this might happen more often than we think but we just don't hear about it. I mean, someone pitches a SW story and gets rejected but then makes the movie for someone else anyways? Bizarre. Who knows what he changed after the initial pitch, but it kind of seems like it wasn't that much. If it was really that far removed from SW it's probably a good thing they didn't roll with it. Could have set an ugly precedent.

    All that being said, you had me at Rebel. And Moon. Wouldn't really call myself a Snyder fan but I don't have problems with what he's done either. Sounds like a fun ride. I'll check it out.... if I am ever allowed to use my in-laws login again. :cool:
     
    #3 DarthSnow, Jul 5, 2023
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  3. eeprom

    eeprom Prince of Bebers

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    So Snyder just plans on having a 'Snyder Cut' of his movies from the beginning now? Wow, I'm not sure if that's idiotic or brilliant. Or both? 'Brill-iotic'?
     
    #4 eeprom, Jul 5, 2023
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  4. cawatrooper

    cawatrooper Dungeon Master

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    That's no Rebel Moon...

    Well, I guess it is. But it's not a Star Wars movie.

    Personally, filmmaking aside, Snyder has a pretty problematic cult of personality around him that I'd like to keep as far away from Star Wars as possible.
     
    #5 cawatrooper, Jul 5, 2023
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  5. DarthSnow

    DarthSnow Sith in the North
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    I thought the same thing. The double-dip is mildly infuriating, is it not?
    [​IMG]

    Especially considering:
    If Netflix isn't getting in the way.... who is??
     
    #6 DarthSnow, Jul 5, 2023
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  6. MBWilson

    MBWilson Force Sensitive

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    He definitely does not seem to have any lack of self-esteem, does he? I agree that sort of "self-branding" doesn't fit the Star Wars Galaxy.

    As far as how often this dynamic happens, I imagine that writing a generic script and then trying to retrofit it into SW would be the long odds method. I'd say there is a razor-thin line between a perfect concept and a dumpster fire. The idea of a completely disconnected story within the GFFA is extremely interesting, but finding that sweet spot where it's still Star Wars could be very hard to hit.

    Going the other way, as Snyder has done here, brings another entire issue. Will Rebel Moon come off as a Star Wars knock-off, or as it's own universe that takes inspiration from SW? I would imagine the knowledge that he originally pitched it as a SW story is something most creators would have preferred was not known, especially before the project is released.
     
    #7 MBWilson, Jul 5, 2023
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  7. Lord of the Rens

    Lord of the Rens Gatekeeper & Avatar Maker

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    Zack Snyder is Palpatine's bastard son. No cloning required.
     
    #8 Lord of the Rens, Jul 7, 2023
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  8. Veronica

    Veronica Rebel General

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    I suspect it's because it's easier for him to fold his ideas and concepts into a pre-established universe. The SW galaxy and timeline is huge and there is a lot of room to play with.

    No. If anything it reminds me a lot of Dune and The Foundation. Your typical Space Opera, where the Galaxy is a stand in for the Roman Empire and with the little guy fighting against oppression.
     
    #9 Veronica, Sep 11, 2023
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