Zack Snyder Updates on ‘Rebel Moon 3’ Status
Few sci-fi projects have arrived with as much ambition as ‘Rebel Moon’. Zack Snyder’s space opera was designed as a more mature alternative to ‘Star Wars’, aiming to create a long-lasting franchise on Netflix. Nearly three years after the first film’s release, the future of a potential ‘Rebel Moon’ sequel remains uncertain.
‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’ debuted in 2023, followed by ‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’ in 2024. Both films received negative reviews from critics, earning 22% and 16% on Rotten Tomatoes, with a reported production cost of $166 million for Netflix.
The sequel concluded on a cliffhanger, and Snyder has indicated that the third installment will follow Kora and her team as they search for Princess Issa. The cast features Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, and Anthony Hopkins.
Recently, Snyder provided a new update, albeit with a note of caution. In an interview with The Direct at TIFF, he was asked about the timeline for a third film. He expressed uncertainty but suggested that as his director’s cuts gain attention, there might be “a little bit more groundswell about maybe making another one.”
The extended R-rated versions of both films were released on Netflix in August 2024. These editions added roughly two hours of footage, including the blood, cursing, and sex scenes that were initially omitted. Snyder hopes these versions will gradually attract new viewers.
However, early viewership numbers do not support this strategy yet. According to What’s on Netflix, the director’s cuts garnered only 7.6 million and 8.3 million views in the latter half of 2024, with lifetime totals of 13.6 million and 14.2 million views.
Both cuts experienced a slight increase in the first half of 2026, each attracting 2.4 million views, up from 1.5 million in the latter half of 2025. While this uptick is modest, it is particularly concerning given the budget that a flagship sci-fi franchise demands.
The theatrical versions present a more varied narrative. ‘Part One’ had a strong start with 57.8 million views in the latter half of 2023, followed by 54.2 million in the first half of 2024, reaching a total of 135.6 million views.
Conversely, ‘Part Two’ began with 55.8 million views but saw a drastic drop to just 10 million in the second half of 2024. Its lifetime total of 76 million views is nearly 44% lower than the first film, indicating that a significant portion of the audience did not return to complete the story.
Fight or die.
REBEL MOON – PART TWO: THE SCARGIVER premieres April 19 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/L5cRRc1j4R— Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) March 18, 2024
Initial optimism was much higher. Co-writer Kurt Johnstad mentioned last year that the team had detailed outlines for movies 3 through 6, but he has since expressed uncertainty, stating that the project is not a priority for him or Snyder.
Additionally, star Patrick Luwis has reported that he has not received any updates about returning. Snyder has also been drawn towards an LAPD action thriller for Netflix, which has been reported to face budget challenges.
Netflix has yet to officially greenlight the third film, nor has it announced a cancellation. Meanwhile, Snyder’s adult-animated series ‘Twilight of the Gods’ will not return for a second season, indicating a potential decline in interest for his expanded universes.
Fans do have a precedent to draw upon. ComicBook.com has suggested that a passionate movement akin to the one that led to ‘Zack Snyder’s Justice League’ could be the only way forward for ‘Rebel Moon’ as a franchise.
The crucial question remains whether that energy exists for a space opera that critics largely dismissed. For now, production has not commenced, and the numbers indicate that the path back to Veldt is steep.
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