Why Zack Snyder's Rebel Moon Won't Get A Wide Theatrical Release

Acclaimed director Zack Snyder explains why the Rebel Moon movies will be released on Netflix rather than getting a wide theatrical release.

Summary

Director Zack Snyder is opting out of a long-term theatrical release for Rebel Moon: Part One due to the energy-draining nature of the model and the differences between PG-13 and extended cuts.
Netflix has high hopes for Rebel Moon , considering the streaming platform's success in science fiction and fantasy franchises and Snyder's fan base.
Snyder's artistic vision for Rebel Moon , which includes R-rated elements, will remain intact with Netflix's limited theatrical release, allowing the movies to stay true to his vision.

There's a reason that director Zack Snyder is opting out of a long-term theatrical release for Rebel Moon: Part One — A Child of Fire. The first of two Rebel Moon entries, A Child of Fire features an ensemble cast that includes Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs), Sofia Boutella (Fahrenheit 451), Djimon Hounsou (Aquaman), as well as numerous other stars. Inspired by Star Wars, Rebel Moon is a science fiction movie series involving a grand rebellion with galactic consequences. The project will be released solely on Netflix.

Considering that Rebel Moon is a massive project with significant financial backing, there is some expectation that the movie would enjoy a typical theatrical release. While speaking with Polygon, Snyder explained why the sci-fi movie will not be seen in theaters for very long. There will be a limited theatrical release, but the model simply does not work for Rebel Moon. Check out Snyder's explanation below:

"With this, I was not super interested in a theatrical release, especially with the PG-13 versus extended cuts. I feel like with the theatrical release, the way the model is, it takes some energy out of it.”

Netflix Has High Hopes For Rebel Moon

Netflix has achieved massive success by building franchises in science fiction and fantasy universes. Stranger Things and Wednesday have become worldwide sensations that ensure the continued success of the streaming platform. Backed by the fan-favorite creative Snyder, Rebel Moon already has a built-in audience of Snyder supporters and can continue to draw audiences through comparisons with Star Wars.

The budget for both Rebel Moon films was a combined $166 million. If Part One is to succeed, it will likely need to pull in $207.5 million overall, given that it will likely have cost $83 million to produce. Relying solely on Netflix subscribers could risk alienating theater-going audiences, preventing Rebel Moon from achieving its full potential. That may not concern Netflix, as the company may simply attempt to draw in and retain subscribers with the Rebel Moon series. If it brings in new subscribers, it would be more worthwhile long-term to Netflix than movie tickets.

The artistic vision is also essential to the success of Rebel Moon, and Snyder's hesitation to release theatrically is integral to that. If he sees theaters as a limiting experience, then Netflix could be taking his opinion into account. Rebel Moon features R-rated elements, including sex, extreme violence, and swearing, which could explain Snyder's concerns. It requires extra work for the creator to cut the movie to PG-13 and then revisit for an extended R-rated cut. Rebel Moon's lack of a long-term theatrical release ensures that Snyder's vision for the films can remain true.

Source: Polygon

Key Release Dates

Valentine Belue

Update: 2024-08-06

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