ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke with Rebel Moon – Part Two: The Scargiver stars Djimon Hounsou, Staz Nair, and Elise Duffy about the Zack Snyder-helmed sci-fi sequel. The trio discussed their characters’ backstories and singing in the film. The movie is set to release on Netflix on Friday, April 19.
“Rebel Moon — Part Two: The Scargiver continues the epic saga of Kora and the surviving warriors as they prepare to sacrifice everything, fighting alongside the brave people of Veldt, to defend a once peaceful village, a newfound homeland for those who have lost their own in the fight against the Motherworld,” reads the movie‘s synopsis. “On the eve of their battle the warriors must face the truths of their own pasts, each revealing why they fight. As the full force of the Realm bears down on the burgeoning rebellion, unbreakable bonds are forged, heroes emerge, and legends are made.”
Tyler Treese: Djimon, we get to see you sing in this film. It’s this great scene, and you get to sing in Fongbe. What did it mean for you to get to incorporate your language into this movie and into this fictional world and celebrate it that way?
Djimon Hounsou: Yeah, it’s quite … what’s the word? I’m quite flattered, let’s put it that way — flattered to be playing this role, flattered to be playing this particular character that sings a tribal song, and I think that was probably a deal breaker. When I first met with Zack, and he was telling me about it, that was the first thing. He was like, “Can you sing? I mean, do you have a tribal song that would reinvoke the ancestors?” The idea of reinvoking the ancestors and to empower your soul. So yeah, it was quite quite fun.
Stazs, in this second part, we get to see so much more backstory of your character. We see why he’s fighting and his personal reasons. How fulfilling is it to see it represented? You have so much more to draw from in your own performance.
Staz Nair: You know, it’s wonderful from one side for the spectator to see where we come from. But for us, when we were first reading the script, these backstories give us a well to draw from. It informs our “why” and our “how.” And it’s wonderful, especially in action, when you are fortunate enough to be given this kind of backstory so that, then, all of a sudden, our heroes are more human and flawed. There’s a vulnerability to them that, sometimes, in an action movie, doesn’t really exist. Everyone kind of plays in this stoic, impervious, and charming realm that doesn’t really, at least in my opinion, often lend itself to what it would be like to experience those kinds of high-stakes situations. That’s my answer.
Elise, I was shocked when I found out that these two movies were your first feature film experience. You got to work with so many veterans behind and in front of the camera. So, what was the biggest takeaway from this incredible learning experience you had? You already looked like a veteran. I was shocked.
Elise Duffy: I’m so happy you brought that up because that, to me, was such an inspiring and special experience for me to work with all these people that inspire me and I look up to, and hope to achieve even a fraction of what they’ve been able to do with their careers. I think that they all show up to set with such incredible gratitude and attitude and a dedication, but also a lightness. And I think that balance is something I’ll take with me throughout my life.
