This production is getting a lot of hype, and for good reason. Here are three:

1. Zack Snyder wanted it to be like Star Wars.

Netflix has collaborated with acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder following the remarkable success of his film Army of the Dead. After an extensive tenure with Warner Bros and DC, Snyder has found a new creative haven with the streaming giant, promising a diverse range of exciting upcoming projects. Among these endeavors is his ambitious two-part project, Rebel Moon, which has generated buzz for the potential development of spin-off properties.

As an avid Star Wars enthusiast, Snyder initially conceived Rebel Moon as a contribution to the Star Wars franchise, intending to offer a more mature perspective on the universe originally crafted by George Lucas. However, this vision faced a setback when Walt Disney Co. acquired LucasFilm in 2012. Undeterred, Snyder struck a deal with Deborah Snyder’s production company, Stone Quarry, and Netflix, leading to the transformation of Rebel Moon into an entirely new and captivating universe.

Out on Netflix December 22

2. The cast is led by big names in action.

Headlining the star-studded ensemble is Sofia Boutella, renowned for her role in Star Trek Beyond, accompanied by the talents of Ed Skrein from Deadpool, the iconic Djimon Hounsou from films like Gladiator and Guardians of the Galaxy, and Charlie Hunnam, known for Sons of Anarchy.

Adding to the cinematic allure, Sir Anthony Hopkins lends his distinctive voice to a robot character. Netflix's ambitious plans for Rebel Moon are evident with the production of two upcoming films, signaling the streaming platform's anticipation for the establishment of a significant sci-fi franchise.

3. The Origin Story

Rebel Moon harks back to a bygone era of Star Wars. Set in the interim between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens, Zack Snyder presents Rebel Moon as a potential expansion to Lucas's expansive galaxy. Snyder described it as his plea to "take it for a spin," envisioning the project as an imaginative journey within the Star Wars universe. Although discussions with Lucas never materialized, Snyder has since developed Rebel Moon independently as a sci-fi venture, still rooted in the genre but distinctly separate from Star Wars. The film serves as Snyder's amalgamation of his passion for Star Wars and admiration for Akira Kurosawa films, particularly Seven Samurai.

While not the first sci-fi movie to explore the theme of villagers enlisting elite warriors for protection, Rebel Moon, backed by the resources of Netflix, promises a level of spectacle that sets it apart from predecessors like the Roger Corman-produced Battle Beyond the Stars—an adaptation of the classic Western The Magnificent Seven.