Yahoo Movies Rebel Moon Part 2 is 'more of a war movie' with 'crazier action'
Ed Skrein promises the second half of Zack Snyder's new Netflix sci-fi film has 'way more violence'
Watch: Zack Snyder teases what to expect from Rebel Moon part two
Zack Snyder says the second part Rebel Moon, his new ambitious space-set fantasy which hits Netflix on 22 December, will be "more of a war movie", with actor Ed Skrein promising "so much violence and action."
“We spend movie one really gathering the team and getting to know the team, and getting to know Kora and her backstory and who is she – what’s going on,” Snyder tells Yahoo UK.
“Movie two, now that we know everyone, can really take its time, and we can delve into the culture of Veldt and understand the people of Veldt.”
Read more: Zack Snyder shares details of 'brutal' Rebel Moon director's cut
In Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire the people of a peaceful farming community on the moon of Veldt find themselves under threat from the tyrannic Imperium, so trusted stranger Kora (Sofia Boutella) sets off to raise a band of resistance fighters. Part Two: The Scargiver premieres in April, and Snyder says he has worked to ensure that the first film has its own tone, and takes the audience on a particular journey that they’ll find satisfying while also leaving them hungry for Part Two.
Part One ends on a cliffhanger – but not necessarily one that will leave audiences frustrated. It’s designed to build excitement for what’s to come.
“Meanwhile, of course, the dreadnought is on its way,” continues Snyder by way of teasing a truly epic showdown in Part Two. “We are really set up for a big, more of a war movie – which I think is much different from the tone of the first movie. And it has a bigger ending. Oh, and a bit more from old Balisarius.”
If Ed Skrein's Atticus Noble is Rebel Moon's Darth Vader, then Balisarius is its Emperor: the big bad simmering in the background, and by the end of Part One, the team has yet to face him directly.
Balisarius, played by Fra Fee (“Fra’s amazing by the way. I love him, he’s the best,” says Snyder) is the one pulling the strings, the tyrannical leader of the Imperium’s armies — and he has a compelling connection to the film’s main protagonist, Kora.
“We’ll get deeper into the story, and we’ll get deeper with each and every character,” says Kora actor Sofia Boutella of Part Two. “Then you’ll get more context and then you’ll get to really enjoy having a relationship with the characters. People will have the chance to associate with one character more than the others, making them theirs and maybe hopefully develop a relationship with them or an affinity with them that will make them want to spend more time with them.
"There’s a lot to say about each character. Zack went deeper psychologically into their backstory. You can see where they come from. You can see why they ended up where they are. And you can see way more magical worlds and spaceships and planets.”
Skrein, Part One’s main villain, Admiral Atticus Noble, meanwhile, teases “way, way, way more violence. There is so much violence and action.”
“Just know that it only gets better from where you leave off in Part One of Rebel Moon,” says Ray Fisher, who plays a resistance fighter named Darrian Bloodaxe, a character set to appear in his own comic-book spin-off. “It’s gonna get more immersive, [with] crazier action, so if you like Part One, you’re gonna love Part Two.”
“I’m just interested in seeing all the different ways that these stories will converge,” says the Justice League actor. “Be it comic-book series, which they’re doing on the Bloodaxes – that’s going to accompany the first part of this so you really get an in-depth look as to how [Darrian’s sister] Devra [Cleopatra Coleman] and Darrian got involved in the situation, and you’ll get a lot more about the politics of the world.”
E Duffy plays another resistance fighter named Milius, who has a close bond with Darrian. “I think Milius is exciting because they’re the youngest of the bunch so they really have a lot of room to grow,” says the actor. “They’ve already made some pretty courageous moves and decisions so I’d like to see them continue on that arc.”
Michiel Huisman, Kora’s right-hand man Gunnar, says he’d love to see his character develop further beyond Part Two: “My character starts out a bit naive, I would say. It would be exciting to see where he ends up. I would love for him to become more of a badass.”
Gunnar certainly proves he’s able to step up to the plate and learn fast in Rebel Moon: Part One but you might well hope the likeable farmer doesn’t lose the piece of him that makes him the heart of the saga so far. With Part Two releasing in April 2024, we don’t have too long to wait to see how everything unfolds.
Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire is streaming on Netflix from 22 December, while Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver will arrive on Netflix from 19 April, 2024.
Read more: Netflix
Watch a trailer for Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire
