Filmmaker Zack Snyder launched a new franchise inspired by the Star Wars universe in the form of Rebel Moon. Snyder recently dropped the R-rated director’s cut of the two-part space opera saga, which features additional scenes that expand upon the original premise and narrative.
In an interview, Snyder revealed an easter egg connecting the Rebel Moon universe to his Army of the Dead franchise. Snyder’s comment also reveals how Star Wars could never dream of pulling off such an explicit scene. Here is what Snyder had to say about the hidden reference to his other Netflix franchise.
Zack Snyder Explains Army of the Dead Reference in Rebel Moon
Zack Snyder directed the two-part space opera film series Rebel Moon, which dropped on Netflix. The filmmaker released an R-rated extended cut of the two movies on August 2, 2024. Snyder sat down for a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter to discuss the R-rated director’s cut.
During the interview, Snyder was asked about a hidden reference to the Army of the Dead franchise in the Rebel Moon universe. Snyder explained how a prostitute in the brothel scene served as the bridge between the two franchises he created for Netflix.
She’s a Xanadite. Queen Meeru, who the bartender references [when berating her], is famously the Princess of the Xanadites.
Snyder made the above statement, explaining the background of the alien prostitute, which is important when connecting the two franchises.
The filmmaker further explained that in Army of the Dead, the Area 51 scene features a reference to the planet Xanadu. Snyder added that the region contains an interdimensional portal that would land a person on the planet, thereby connecting the two franchises.
Star Wars Could Never Dream of an R-rated Brothel Scene Like Rebel Moon
While Snyder connecting the Army of the Dead universe with Rebel Moon might seem like an odd decision, the hidden reference is significant for another important reason. The R-rated director’s cut of the Rebel Moon movies features some explicit scenes, including the one in the brothel with the alien prostitute.
The Star Wars franchise has been around for more than four decades but has yet to release a single R-rated project. Furthermore, the franchise has often shied away from explicit content. The opening scene of Andor is the closest the franchise has come to embracing bold aspects of the space opera genre.
In the scene, Cassian Andor enters a brothel to search for his sister, but the nature of the establishment is far less explicit when compared to the scene in Rebel Moon. Moreover, it is also noteworthy that creator Tony Gilroy wrote the scene to test the limits of the franchise allowing such topics, which took almost four decades.
Ultimately, the explicit nature of certain subjects ranging from prostitution to violence is something that the Star Wars franchise can only dream of given the PG nature of its previous content, especially under the ownership of Disney. As a result, Snyder’s Rebel Moon universe provides viewers a look at what a darker take on the galaxy far, far away might look like.
The Rebel Moon movies are streaming on Netflix.
