After being turned down by Lucasfilm, Zack Snyder proceeded to helm his own Star Wars-inspired franchise, whose first part, starring Sofia Boutella, hit Netflix in December. Unfortunately, while Rebel Moon was visually impeccable, like every Snyder movie is, beyond its great imagery, the space opera didn’t have much to offer, and it was panned by fans and critics alike.
Reflecting on the overwhelming criticism, Boutella, who played the lead in the sci-fi action, expressed how hard it was for her to deal with the pushback. However, the actor did stand by the movie and Snyder’s vision, as she stressed how important the movie has been in her life.
Sofia Boutella Is Proud to Be Part of Zack Snyder’s Vision
While Zack Snyder is one of the most visually gifted filmmakers in Hollywood arguably on par with Michael Bay, storytelling hasn’t been his strong suit, and it’s notable with Rebel Moon. Upon its release, both fans and critics weren’t kind to the movie, and the harsh criticisms seem to have taken a big toll on its lead, Sofia Boutella.
With Rebel Moon currently sitting on a mere 21% on the Tomatometer, Sofia Boutella expressed that seeing the movie get demolished critically was hard for her. But she doesn’t regret her involvement in the movie, as The Mummy Star stressed she is extremely proud of being part of Snyder’s vision and will defend the movie forever. Sofia Boutella said (via Variety):
“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… It really affected me for all of those who put so much heart, tears, and sweat in this project,” she said. “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.”
Fortunately, despite the bad scores, Part Two: The Scargiver is scheduled to be released in April, and fans will hope the sequel improves over the first one.
Director’s Cut of Both Rebel Moon Movies Might Drop on the Same Day
Since Rebel Moon‘s release, fans of Zack Snyder have been patiently waiting for the extended cut of the movie to be dropped, which has become synonymous with the director’s filmography. While time will tell if the extended rated-R cut will ameliorate Rebel Moon‘s quality, Snyder has finally touched on when the extended cut might be released. Although he didn’t give an exact date, the ZSJL director revealed extended versions of both Part 1 and Part 2 might drop on the same date. Snyder told I Minutemen:
“Those will come out, probably, on the same day – later. We don’t have a date yet, but I think it’s going to be in the summer.”
Following Zack Snyder’s past two releases, it’s evident that the director would greatly benefit from joining forces with an acclaimed screenwriter, using his directing chops to bring their story to life. For now, fans will hope the Rebel Moon: Part 2 — The Scargiver, starring Sofia Boutella, will tell a much more compelling story than its predecessor.
Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire is available to stream on Netflix.
Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver is slated for a release on April 19.
