Rebel Ridgedirector Jeremy Saulnier addressesStar Warsactor John Boyega’s exit from the Netflix film. Marking his latest movie after 2018’sHold the Dark,Rebel Ridgestars Aaron Pierreasex-Marine Terry Richmond, who finds himself in a showdown against corrupt, small-town copsas he attempts to post bail for his cousin. The film, which also stars Don Johnson, David Denman, AnnaSophia Robb, and Emory Cohen, had a rocky road during production due in part to the departure of Boyega, who was originally slated to play Terry, with “family reasons” being cited for the exit.
In a recent interview withVulture, Saulnier is asked about Pierre’s casting and howRebel Ridgekept going after Boyega left the project. While the director doesn’t go into detail regarding why exactly Boyega left and the speculation that it wasn’t just due to family reasons, he does stress that it was for the best of everybody involved.Saulnier also reveals that he was “willing to risk the movie” if he couldn’t find the perfect replacement, which eventually arrived in the form of Pierre. Check out Saulnier’s comments below:
When John left the film, it was inevitable and out of respect for all parties involved; I can’t get into the details of it. But every party would agree, it was the right situation. It had to be that way. And I was willing to risk the movie unless I found the one and only true Terry Richmond. The search was insanely short, because within weeks, I had a Zoom call in Louisiana with Aaron Pierre, and I knew in less than two minutes that this is the guy.
We had a very deep conversation. We were at this perfect crossroads, his career, my career. It did not seem in any way desperate, but it felt like we needed each other at that time. And the way he presented himself, his immediate interest and investment and dedication, was uplifting and immediately reenergized me.
But because of the logistics of the situation, we opted to go and wait another year, and the reason was, this was a big reset. Everyone needs a little time. Netflix was insanely supportive of giving Aaron the opportunity. And no one who’s seen the film can imagine a version of this without Aaron Pierre. He shoulders this movie — he’s in about 129 scenes, maybe, of 135.
And this is not just, like, me trying to brainwash myself. It was the most amazing turn for the film. I’m not into hocus-pocus, but I believe the fates intervened and Aaron and I were meant to work together. He was overly reverent toward, as he refers to it, the text. We were in Louisiana with the blazing-hot sun, and he had to lift human bodies over his head and then learn eight pages of dialogue. The task at hand was pretty intense.
What Aaron Pierre’s Casting Means For Rebel Ridge
Saulnier’s New Film Has Been A Hit
TheRebel Ridgereviewshave been glowing from critics, with praise heaped on Saulnier’s directing and the tight, timely script.Pierre himself, however, is perhaps the biggest point of praise.Prior to working with Saulnier, Pierre was known mostly forThe Underground Railroad(2021), but he’d also appeared in projects likeOld(2021) andBrother(2022). It’s fair to say, though, that he wasn’t a well-known leading man.
$28 million
95%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
72%
No longer in a supporting role,Pierre is arguably key to makingRebel Ridgework as a film. As Saulnier says in his comment above, Terry is on-screen for the vast majority of the movie, and he needs to be compelling. It’s also important to the story that Terry be physically imposing and believably able to incapacitate multiple police officers as he does during theRebel Ridgeending, and Pierre has the size and stature to accomplish this.
Our Take On John Boyega’s Departure From Rebel Ridge
Would The Film Have Succeeded With The Star Wars Actor?
Boyega remains best known for his role as Finn in Disney’sStar Warssequel trilogy, and his most notable role since then was inThey Cloned Tyrone(2023), which was critically acclaimed. Other than that, however,Boyega arguably hasn’t starred in anything that truly announces him as a more typical Hollywood leading man.Rebel Ridgeseemingly would have been the type of role that cemented Boyega as a capable action star outside of a major franchise.
6 Reasons Rebel Ridge’s Reviews Are So Great
Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge is receiving incredible reviews from both viewers and critics, which is not surprising after considering seven reasons.
That being said, it’s not clear whetherRebel Ridgewould have achieved the same level of success with Boyega as Terry. Pierre is such a major reason why Saulnier’s latest film has struck a chord with viewers, and it’s evidently for the best that things worked out the way they did. Because ofRebel Ridge, Pierre now certainly looks to have an exciting career ahead of him.
“The first few moments of the story already throw us into the heat of the narrative conflict. Though Rebel Ridge has already been compared to Rambo and Reacher before its premiere, it’s a more sophisticated version of the best action blockbusters with the style of an indie darling."-Mary Kassel-Screen Rant’s Rebel Ridge Review
Rebel Ridge
Cast
Former Marine Terry Richmond travels to Shelby Springs to post bail for his cousin, only to find his savings unjustly seized by a corrupt local police force. With the help of court clerk Summer McBride, Terry uncovers a deep-seated conspiracy and vows to bring justice to the town.
