Sofia Boutella Takes New York by Storm Ahead of “Rebel Moon — Part 2: The Scargiver” Release
The enigmatic French Algerian actress, Sofia Boutella, known for keeping a low profile, has been turning heads in the streets of New York recently. She has been rocking a variety of looks and attending promotional events leading up to the premiere of Netflix’s “Rebel Moon — Part 2: The Scargiver” on April 19.
Directed by Zack Snyder, this science fiction epic stars Boutella in the lead role, continuing the story of Kora and a group of warriors as they gear up to defend a peaceful village called Veldt. This settlement has become a new home for those who lost their own battling against the Motherworld.
Sofia Boutella Celebrates Birthday with Co-Stars
Earlier this month, Boutella celebrated her birthday with her castmates at a promotional event in New York on April 3. She took to Instagram to express her gratitude, saying, “Celebrating my birthday with this lovely bunch was just the best. Thank you for all the love – thank you Netflix!”
Boutella’s Rare Insight into Playing a Strong Female Lead
In a previous interview with Arab News, Boutella shared her thoughts on portraying a powerful female character like Kora.
“Various aspects drew me to Kora; a big one was the chance to play a lead female character,” Boutella expressed. “I think that’s important. I’m grateful for Zack for thinking of having a woman as the lead character in his movie — whether it was me or someone else.”
Apart from the thrill of leading an action-packed film, Boutella found joy in shaping a character that defies traditional hero stereotypes. “What drew me to the project was playing a character that was complicated and conflicted,” she elaborated.
Drawing from her personal experiences as an immigrant, Boutella tapped into her own history growing up in Algeria during a tumultuous civil war before moving to France. This background helped her emotionally connect with Kora, a character who was taken at a young age and forced to adapt to a new environment.
“Having left Algeria young, when I go back there I don’t feel like I belong to Algeria. And then, in France, I don’t feel like I belong to France because I didn’t grow up there,” Boutella shared.