Original-Cin Q&A: Zack Snyder on Digging Deeper into Rebel Moon
Rebel Moon is back.
The action-packed sci-fi feature from writer/director/cinematographer Zack Snyder returns with a second installment called The Scargiver. In it, we find the warriors facing their pasts and revealing their motivations before the Realm's forces arrive to crush the growing rebellion on the planet Veldt.
Bonnie Laufer spoke with Snyder about the character development and why he felt it was important to the story he wanted to tell.
Staz Nair and Djimon Honsou in Rebel Moon-Part Two: The Scargiver
Rebel Moon-Part Two: The Scargiver begins streaming on Netflix on April 19.
To watch Bonnie’s Interviews with the cast see links below:
CLICK HERE for her interview with Sofia Boutella and Michiel Huisman.
CLICK HERE for her interview with Djimon Hounsou, Staz Nair and Elise Duffy.
CLICK HERE for her interview with Ed Skrein and Fra Fee
ORIGINAL-CIN: Aside from the non-stop action in Rebel Moon: Part Two, what truly got me was the characters’ backstories and the dramatic side of the film. What excited you most about diving into this second part?
ZACK SNYDER: I think it was exactly that. I wrote the movie as a single story. So when we broke off with movie one, we collected the team of warriors, we had a battle and then they were on their way back home.
Obviously, we were going to get into our Days of Heaven, (laughs) part of the movie, and that was fun for me. I wanted to focus on these people and who they were at the core.
Zack Snyder
I loved filming the harvest scenes which were truly beautiful and really fun to film. I felt the warriors' stories and the sequence where they each get a banner presented to them from Sam (a resident of the village, played by Charlotte Maggi) was moving and brought some real depth to the story.
O:C: Which leads me to my next question. That was one of my favorite scenes in the film. We not only find out about each warrior, but these banners represent each of their strengths and personalities. So when it came to casting these roles, how much did each actor relate to the banner they were presented with?
SNYDER: I really did try to cast these actors having their personalities quite similar to who they were playing. So it was interesting that they really kind of personified Sam's perspective, which I thought was really beautiful and that scene turned out to be more personal for each actor than expected. We really get into what each and every one of these warriors are going through with their backstories. It just made them more human and relatable, no matter how tough of an exterior they presented.
O-C: For the most part you were using practical sets, so it really did give the cast a feel like they were living in this world.
SNYDER: Exactly, and frankly, it was amazingly fun to film as well because the village felt real. We shot the banner scene in a huge barn-like house. It was very practical, when we walked outside, the village was just all out there.
O-C: Zack, it always seems to amaze me how you manage to keep it all together. You have full control, being the writer, producer, director, cinematographer and god only knows what else! Do you ever sleep? You’re like the Energizer bunny!
SNYDER: (Laughs) Well, I have an incredible partner, my wife Debbie is unbelievable. I know without her I'm sure I don't know what I'd be doing. Certainly not this.
I have great people around me and it's a family affair. My son Eli was the second unit director. We are a circus family, so it's 24/7 for us. We all just love doing it and so it's just a labor of love.
But I have to say this cast and crew were incredible and truly felt like family throughout this entire journey. They allowed my dream to come true and for that I am really grateful.