Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon VR Game Coming From Sandbox Despite Netflix Film Failures

Sandbox VR has unveiled a thrilling partnership with Netflix, planning to introduce Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon series within the realm of virtual reality. This venture, referred to as an “interactive VR experience,” intends to broaden the cosmos of Snyder’s science fiction masterpiece, offering fans an entirely engrossing journey.

The problem? There aren’t many fans left to care.

The Netflix-anticipated Rebel Moon series, envisioned as its own Star Wars analogue, flopped like a dropped featherweight. Critics and viewers unanimously disapproved of both movies. The initial release lacked any substantial impact, while the sequel performed even more poorly.

It’s hard not to question the decision behind Sandbox VR continuing with the struggling franchise. After all, one might ponder who came up with this plan and what led them to it.

As stated by Sandbox VR and Netflix, the Rebel Moon VR game offers players an opportunity to enter the universe of Zack Snyder’s science fiction epic, where they can handle weapons and participate in intense battles within a completely engrossing environment.

If that sounds generic, it’s because it is.

Although there were high expectations with the grand promises made, specifics have not been disclosed yet. As a result, players can only speculate about the nature of this “interactive journey”. Given the mixed reviews of the original content, it’s reasonable for anticipation to be subdued.

Although Sandbox VR has successfully translated popular franchises such as Star Trek into virtual reality adventures, the developer’s choice to link their success with Rebel Moon feels unconventional, given that it is not a well-known franchise. Investing in a property that appears doomed from the outset seems an unusual—and daring—decision for a platform reliant on fan engagement and repeat playthroughs.

When Zack Snyder presented his concept for Rebel Moon, he described it as his grand opus—an extensive space opera intended to establish him as a renowned Hollywood filmmaker, unaffected by the limitations imposed by intrusive studios. This news was highly appreciated by the vocal “Snyder supporters” who long for Snyder’s dark and gritty style in the DC universe. They’ve consistently felt that the downfall of the DC “Snyderverse” was largely due to WB studio intervention.

Netflix jumped on the bandwagon, investing heavily in the creation and promotion of the show, but unfortunately, it ended up flopping instead.

Twice.

In late 2024, the initial release of the movie was met with severe criticism. Critics harshly criticized its excessive length, underdeveloped characters, and unoriginal plot, labeling it a haphazard blend of superior films and Snyder at his peak of self-indulgence. The audience turnout mirrored the negative reception, falling short compared to movies such as “Murder Mystery 2”, “The Mother”, “Leave the World Behind”, “Heart of Stone”, and “You People”.

REBEL MOON debuts after 4 days with 23.9M views.

For comparison in roughly the same time period:

1. Murder Mystery 2 – “Sequel to the Mystery Movie” – 42.9M

2. The Mother – “The Film about a Mother” – 42.9M

3. Leave the World Behind – “Leaving the World Behind” – 41.7M

4. Heart of Stone 3 – “Third Installment: Heart of Stone” – 33.1M

5. You People – “The Film about ‘You People'” – 28.3M

— What’s on Netflix (@whatonnetflix) December 26, 2023

Anticipation for a second chance was high when the sequel arrived shortly after, but it fell flat as its performance was even more dismal. Data from viewership showed a significant decline, and it failed to outperform other Netflix flops like Gal Gadot’s Heart of Stone. Given that this franchise aimed to challenge series like Star Wars, the results were not merely discouraging—they were humiliating.

Unfortunately, the setback continues for Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead franchise as it has been put on hold by Netflix. Despite a decent start in 2021 and plans for spin-offs and an animated series, these projects failed to generate significant momentum. This decision comes after the collapse of Rebel Moon, which seems to have shaken Netflix’s faith in Snyder’s ability to sustain successful franchises.

This new development is another setback for Snyder’s professional journey, as his career has been finding it difficult to regain momentum following the disappointing outcomes of his DC Comics movies. While supporters of the much-debated “Snyder Cut” of Justice League continue to praise his talent, the failure of Rebel Moon has effectively dismantled the notion that Snyder is an undervalued visionary hindered by malevolent production companies.

In the creative control of “Rebel Moon,” Snyder produced a duo of underwhelming movies instead of a masterwork. These films fell short in captivating audiences and didn’t seem to warrant Netflix’s substantial financial commitment.

As an ardent admirer, I can’t help but speculate that the VR game titled “Rebel Moon” might just be the last chapter in Zack Snyder’s sci-fi aspirations. Although Sandbox VR has the potential to craft a captivating experience irrespective of the films’ underwhelming response, the deck seems stacked against them. The franchise, with its blemished history and scarcity of fervent fans yearning for more content, gives off an air of obligatory work rather than a heartfelt endeavor to broaden the horizons of the “Rebel Moon” universe.

In a time when Virtual Reality projects are flourishing based on well-known IPs with devoted fanbases, linking Sandbox VR’s destiny to the Rebel Moon seems puzzling and risky. The concern isn’t about the game’s potential success; it’s more about the potential harm this unusual bet might cause for both Sandbox VR and Netflix as they strive to find a profitable franchise in their distant, far-off universe.

Let’s add another far in there, just to be safe…

Have you taken a liking to ‘Rebel Moon’, whether you prefer it in virtual reality or the traditional way? Share your thoughts on the film in the comments below.

2025-01-08 02:55

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