Just When You Thought Netflix’s ‘Rebel Ridge’ Couldn’t Get Any Better, Turns Out It Pays Tribute to a Stunning Scene From Christopher Nolan’s ‘Interstellar’

Directed-produced-edited by Jeremy Saulnier, the crime-action thriller movie Rebel Ridge starring Aaron Pierre, Don Johnson, and more, was recently released on Netflix. The movie follows a former Marine who makes his way through a small town of corruption to post bail for his cousin, which escalates into a violent standoff with a corrupt police officer.

The movie, upon release, has managed to receive positive responses from the critics as well as the audience. Aaron Pierre replaced John Boyega in 2021 after the latter decided to exit the project due to family reasons. Rebel Ridge has received a score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes with an average rating of 8.0/10. Filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier recently spoke about his movie’s connection to Christopher Nolan.

Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge pays tribute to Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar in one scene

In his recent interview with Vulture, filmmaker Jeremy Saulnier was asked if his recently released Rebel Ridge sharing qualities with various movies, including Michael Clayton and Erin Brockovich, along with First Blood, was intentional. He added that it was, and the references he used once he finished the movie were First Blood meets Michael Clayton. He added,

The spark of the film was more than the Eastwood era of westerns, the Man With No Name, and having a guy ride into town on a horse—but in this case, it would be a bicycle. Sometimes, it’s not until the finished version of the movie where I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s me referring to Axel Foley in the police station, having this really kind of cordial pushback against cops. Sh*t!’.

Saulnier added that as a filmmaker, he does not gravitate towards self-referential movies that wink and nod and know that they are movies. He noted that he likes to have the sanctity of the story be pure. He mentioned that for his look-book, he used First Blood, Michael Clayton, Mississippi Burning, an image from True Romance, and a shot from Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar. It’s the shot where a big truck is going through a cornfield and gives dirt, texture, and color palette.

If I am too hyperaware of the references, I lose track. I had to avoid a Colonel Trautman joke I was going to make when they’re all in the police station trying to find out who this Terry Richmond is. I thought it would break the wall.

He noted that he referenced Michael Clayton regarding legal thrillers because the dialogues in that movie are very compelling. Saulnier admits that he aspires to have that level of charge between the actors, and he enjoyed being able to listen to people talk.

Jeremy Saulnier says he and Aaron Pierre were meant to work together in Rebel Ridge

The filmmaker was asked about actor John Boyega’s exit and what kept him motivated to keep pursuing the movie in such unforeseen circumstances. He explained that Boyega’s exit in 2021 was inevitable and he’d not like to go into details of that. But he added that he was willing to risk the movie unless he found the one and only true Terry Richmond.

He admits that in a Zoom meeting with Aaron Pierre, he knew that he was the guy he had been looking for, adding that they had a deep conversation and were at a perfect crossroads in both of their careers. Saulnier praised Pierre by stating that his immediate interest, investment, and dedication were uplifting and reenergized him.

Netflix was insanely supportive of giving Aaron the opportunity. And no one who’s seen the movie can imagine a version of this without Aaron Pierre. He shoulders this movie—he’s in about 129 scenes, maybe 135. And it’s not just, like, me trying to brainwash myself. It was the most amazing turn for the film. Aaron and I were meant to work together.

The movie has received positive comments from critics and the audience, with special praise for Pierre’s performance in the movie.

Rebel Ridge is streaming on Netflix.