In case you’re wondering what might be next for Zack Snyder, especially after the epic scale of his two ‘Rebel Moon’ movies, well, he’s going to be doing the total opposite of that. In July, Snyder told Reel Blend that his next film was smaller in scale to ‘Rebel Moon’ and would not have any VFX:
I’m trying to do a small movie right now. I'm not going to say what it is, but I was, like, can I just do a movie without any visual effects in it for like five minutes? Then, I’ll go back to the insanity […] I'm supposed to be writing this movie and that's kind of what I want to do.
Last night, a source emailed me that Snyder's next film, which isn't planned at Netflix, would be set in the world of UFC. Zach Baylin (“King Richard”) co-wrote the screenplay with Snyder. It’s planned as a theatrical film, with the UFC (including its president, Dana White) being directly involved.
Locations have been locked, and they include Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Las Vegas for key scenes, so it has a lot of backing. As for casting, it’s all early, but I’ve been told that Snyder has approached Adam Driver for the lead role.
I should emphasize that, at the moment, Driver isn’t confirmed. He’s just been “approached.” The actor is currently acting off-Broadway in Kenneth Lonergan’s “Hold on to Me Darling,” which is set to run throughout the fall. Otherwise, Driver has no other film project lined up, save for his rumored involvement in Michael Mann’s “Heat” sequel.
It was just a few months ago that Snyder was hinting at making a third ‘Rebel Moon’ movie, but the response to the first two instalments must have certainly put that project on permanent hold. I’d be very surprised if Netflix decides to greenlight another one.
One look at Snyder’s filmography, and it consists mostly of these big and epic statements, so it will be interesting to see him make something a little “smaller,” which he hasn’t done since his 2004 debut “Dawn of the Dead.” Then again, making a UFC film isn’t by any stretch a modest endeavor, it just feels small when compared to his other works.