Zack Snyder’sRebel Moonis quickly emerging as one of the most daring original science-fiction film productions in recent memory. Now, in addition to announcing brand-new cast members,Rebel Moonhas officially replaced Rupert Friend, one of its previously announced cast members, with none other thanDeadpoolactor Ed Skrein.
Skrein is an English actor who rose to fame after replacing Jason Statham as the star of 2015’sThe Transporter: Refueled. Since then, Skrein has become well-known for his villainous roles, as he starred as Ajax inDeadpool, Officer Bell inIf Beale Street Could Talk, and Zapan inAlita: Battle Angel. Other notable film appearances by Skrein includeMaleficent: Mistress of Evil,Midway, andNaked Singularity.
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Now, Deadline reports Skrein has replaced Friend for the role of Balisarius, the tyrannical regent who opposes the heroes inthe galactic setting ofRebel Moon. The role of Balisarius is central to theNetflixfilm’s plot, as a peaceful colony sends a young woman to surrounding planets to gather warriors who can defend the colony against Balisarius and his battalion. Interestingly, Friend shares a similarity with Skrein in that both of them starred in mid-budget action films released in 2015, with Friend playing the titular assassin inHitman: Agent 47.
The actors announced as cast members alongside Skrein areDopesick’s Cleopatra Coleman,Hawkeye’s Fra Fee, and Rhian Rees, who stars inJordan Peele’s upcoming horror thrillerNope. They round out a cast that includes Sofia Boutella, Charlie Hunnam, Djimon Hounsou, Doona Bee, Ray Fisher, Cary Elwes, Corey Stoll, Michiel Huisman, and Alfonso Herrera. In addition to directing, Snyder wrote the film’s script along with300: Rise of an Empirewriter Kurt Johnstad, who co-created the film’s story, andJohn Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellumwriter Shay Hatten.
When considering hisroles inDeadpoolandAlita: Battle Angel, it’s easy to see why Skrein would make a perfect tyrannical regent for Snyder’s science-fiction epic. Friend, a talented actor in his own right as shown throughHomelandandThe Death of Stalin, would have also been a good actor for the role, which makes his departure (due to scheduling conflicts) disheartening. But it’s safe to say that Snyder and company have chosen an actor who is more than capable of bringing Balisarius to life.
