Source:
https://www.dicebreaker.com/companies/evil-genius-productions/news/rebel-moon-trpg-netflix-lawsuit-evil-genius-settles

Rebel Moon tabletop RPG studio resolves Netflix lawsuit 'amicably'

Evil Genius Games will soon begin issuing pre-order refunds on the
tie-in RPG for Snyder's sci-fi flick.
by Chase Carter Contributor
Published on Jan. 25, 2024

The tabletop studio that developed a now-cancelled RPG for Zack Snyder’s
science-fiction film Rebel Moon - Part One: A Child of Fire has
“amicably” settled its lawsuit with Netflix. Evil Genius Games found
itself at odds with the giant streaming platform after Netflix accused
the studio of breaching its confidentiality agreement at GAMA in 2023.

Evil Genius Games’ owner D. Todd Scott released a joint statement with
Netflix on January 24th claiming that both parties have buried the
litigious hatchet, and the tabletop maker would reach out to retailers
about issuing pre-order refunds “within the next 7-10 days”.

“The parties are pleased that they were able to amicably resolve this
dispute. Netflix thanks Evil Genius for their hard work and
professionalism,” the statement reads. “We will not be releasing a Rebel
Moon game, but stay tuned for more amazing Cinematic Adventures and an
upcoming sci-fi project. And thank you again for your amazing support!”
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It’s a somewhat anticlimactic end to a perplexing chain of events that
began when Evil Genius Games, which previously adapted action films such
as Pacific Rim, Total Recall and Kong: Skull Island for its 5E RPG
system Everyday Heroes, apparently wowed both Netflix and Snyder with
its plans for an expansive RPG set in the Rebel Moon universe.

Snyder reportedly always wanted to complement his Star
Wars-sans-serial-numbers film - the first in a supposed Snyderverse -
with a tabletop RPG for Rebel Moon, and he said as much to Netflix. When
Evil Genius Games clinched the deal, the studio stopped work on all
other projects and developed a massive “world bible” in 2023 that,
according to the eventual lawsuit, “supplied all the missing pieces and
created a cohesive backstory for the entire Rebel Moon franchise.”

Evil Genius Games took the resulting 430-page Player’s Guide and
337-page Game Master’s Guide to tabletop trade show GAMA in April 2023
alongside representatives from Netflix and showed artwork to retailers
and distributors. Netflix claimed this action breached the
confidentiality agreement and “Netflix’s trust”, and work on Rebel
Moon’s tabletop RPG was immediately halted. Evil Genius Game
additionally claimed Netflix attempted to seize the world bible as
belonging “solely and exclusively to Netflix”.

Evil Genius game seemed bent on taking Netflix to task in September of
last year, claiming the streaming video leader effectively signed a
$50,000 cheque “to basically go away, forgive Netflix for its pretextual
hijacking of the project, and hand over the game to them”. Their lawsuit
claimed alleged breach of contract, breach of the implied covenant of
good faith and fair dealing, and unjust enrichment to make up for
massive expected profits riding the popularity wave of Snyder’s Rebel
Moon film.

Perhaps it was for the best, as the film is currently sitting at a score
of 31 on Metacritic and boasts a Rotten Tomato rating of 23% (not even
the 58% audience score can save face). Whatever your opinion of licensed
tabletop products, they normally need an established fan base willing to
spend more time in their specific world. Maybe if Netflix had Evil
Genius’ world bible, Snyder’s attempt to launch his own cinematic
universe would’ve sputtered less off the launchpad.