Zack Snyder was captured by the lens of Shayan Asgharnia on November 10 at Stone Quarry in Pasadena. What spurred the interest of the 57-year-old filmmaker in pottery? Believe it or not, it all started with a Fortnite phase that he entered due to his bonding activity with his son that turned into a solitary obsession absorbed in the world-building video game. His wife, Deborah Snyder, found him “gaming” at 3 o’clock in the morning, which prompted her to gift him some clay and tools and suggest he make something. And that’s how Hollywood’s most controversial film director landed in the art of pottery.
Snyder himself mentions that it’s a compulsion, admitting this while sitting in his bohemian-style home office on a warm, sunny day in November, high above Pasadena, with his pottery studio steps away. His latest project, ‘Rebel Moon’, a big-budget space epic arriving on Netflix on Dec. 22, marks a shift in genres for him. The film is lined up alongside Warner Bros.’ release of ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’ on the very same date.
Snyder has received ample attention for his DC superhero films and, in a visit to the set at Sunset Gower Studios, he seems to be meticulously crafting every detail of his dream project. ‘Rebel Moon’ reportedly cost $165 million to produce, with Snyder’s salary alone being in the eight-figure range. His relentless dedication to his craft is evident; his work hours are grueling, his creativity boundless, and his passion unyielding.
The transformative process of ‘Rebel Moon’ began as an idea during Snyder’s film school days, with elements of a space-set ‘Magnificent Seven’ or ‘Seven Samurai’. Over the years, it evolved into a Star Wars story, landed at Lucasfilm, lived as a TV show inspired by ‘Game of Thrones’, and eventually transformed back into a feature. Netflix initially expected it to be PG-13, but a specially curated R-rated cut was eventually agreed upon. Scott Stuber, Netflix’s film chairman, speaks of Snyder’s undying passion, and it’s contagious, evident in the energy he brings to the project, unwavering even after two decades in the industry.
As the specter of ‘Rebel Moon’ hovers closer to its anticipated Netflix release, Snyder is found making the best of both worlds between family and film, his resolute dedication matched only by his profound enthusiasm.
