Zack Snyder’s Star Wars-inspired movie Rebel Moon has been picked up by Netflix.

The sci-fi adventure has its origins in a failed pitch Snyder made to put an edgier spin on George Lucas’ iconic science-fiction franchise more than a decade ago, before the rights were sold to Disney.

Introducing his new project in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder also listed Seven Samurai director Akira Kurosawa among Rebel Moon’s influences.

“This is me growing up as an Akira Kurosawa fan, a Star Wars fan,” he explained. “It’s my love of sci-fi and a giant adventure. My hope is that this also becomes a massive IP and a universe can be built out.”

Rebel Moon follows a peaceful colony on the edge of the galaxy that is threatened by a warlord. To overcome this, they recruit people from nearby planets to help fight back.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Watchmen filmmaker originally had conversations with Lucasfilm executives about his ideas becoming a spin-off to Star Wars aimed at more mature audiences, but now wants to build his own sci-fi universe.

“I’ve spent the last two or three years building out this universe,” he added. “Every corner has to be painted in. I’ve been doing designs, constantly drawing and really cultivating its fertile ground to make this world fully realised.”

Snyder’s partnership with Netflix began with Army of the Dead, which premiered in May, and the success means a prequel is in the works.

He will direct and co-write, alongside Army of the Dead’s Shay Hatten and 300’s Kurt Johnstad.

Production of Rebel Moon begins next year.

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