Zack Snyder Is Counting on Fans To Save ‘Rebel Moon 3’, but the Numbers Tell a Tough Story
When Netflix first teamed up with Zack Snyder on his original sci-fi saga, the plan was nothing short of a full-blown franchise, and the fate of ‘Rebel Moon 3′ has been a question mark ever since. ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire’ landed on the streamer in December 2023, starring Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam and Jena Malone. Its follow-up, ‘Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver’, arrived on April 19, 2024.
Snyder’s ambitions stretched far beyond a 2-part story. Co-writer Kurt Johnstad previously revealed that the creative team had crafted detailed outlines for movies 3, 4, 5 and 6, with Snyder mapping out the entire world. The universe has since expanded into comics and video games, including ‘Rebel Moon: The Descent’ and ‘Blood Line: A Rebel Moon Game’.
Now, the director has finally offered a fresh update. Speaking with The Direct at TIFF, Snyder was asked whether fans would see a third installment anytime soon, and his answer was noticeably hesitant.
He pinned his hopes on the extended R-rated versions of the films. Referencing his director’s cuts, Snyder told The Direct that “as those maybe, like, get a little bit more popular and sort of, like, get discovered, then there’s a little bit more groundswell about maybe making another one.”
Unfortunately, the numbers paint a challenging picture. What’s on Netflix dug into the streamer’s engagement data and found that ‘Part One’ performed solidly, pulling in 57.8 million views in the second half of 2023 and eventually reaching a lifetime total of 135.6 million views.
‘Part Two’ told a different story. The sequel opened with 55.8 million views before falling to just 10 million views in the following period, finishing with 76 million total views, nearly a 44% decline from the first film. That drop suggests a large portion of the audience never came back to finish the story.
That’s a problem for Snyder’s strategy, since the extended editions are exactly what he’s hoping will spark renewed interest. The director’s cuts of ‘Part One’ and ‘Part Two’ debuted with 7.6 million and 8.3 million views, respectively, and currently sit at lifetime totals of 13.6 million and 14.2 million views.
The trailer for Zack Snyder’s ‘REBEL MOON – PART 2: THE SCARGIVER’ has been released.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 18, 2024
Releases April 19 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/Q18jxFjkhL
They did see a tiny bump in the first half of 2026, with each pulling in 2.4 million views, up from 1.5 million in the previous period. Still, those figures remain small compared to the budget needed for a flagship sci-fi blockbuster.
Not everyone sees the franchise as a lost cause. Replying to What’s on Netflix’s post on X, one fan pointed to roughly 240 million combined views across all 4 cuts as evidence that the saga still has an audience.
Supporters believe that kind of total deserves more credit. However, the steep drop-off between the 2 main films remains the sticking point for anyone weighing another costly installment.
Snyder’s focus has also shifted elsewhere. He previously admitted to getting sidetracked by his LAPD SWAT movie for Netflix, calling the back-to-back ‘Rebel Moon’ shoot an exhausting process and saying it was nice to take a break.
Netflix’s broader appetite for his expanded universes also appears to be cooling. What’s on Netflix recently confirmed that ‘Twilight of the Gods’, Snyder’s adult-animated Norse mythology series, won’t return for a second season.
For now, ‘Rebel Moon 3’ remains in limbo, with no official greenlight from Netflix. Snyder clearly hasn’t given up, but without a major surge in viewership, the sci-fi saga may stay on ice for the foreseeable future. Whether fans can rally enough support to change Netflix’s mind remains to be seen. One thing is certain: the ball is now firmly in the audience’s court.
Would you watch Rebel Moon 3 if Netflix gave Zack Snyder the green light?
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