“Voltron” — that other robots movie based on a ’80s pop culture phenomenon that is not “Transformers” — has been in development forever. Why? Well, Toei Animation Co. Ltd., who are the owners of the original series of Japanese cartoons that were mashed up to create the show known by North Americans as “Voltron,” have been there to make sure they get paid whenever the program got near any further television and movie deals. But it looks like years and years later, everything might be in place to make this happen.
Vulture reports that movement on a movie deal is happening with World Events Productions apparently being courted by a few studios for the rights. Quite an about face considering last summer, any possibility of a movie was considered dead as the rights holders were said to be focusing on a new television series and toy line. But when Hollywood comes knocking, you don’t ignore it. It also helps that a bit of legalese preventing World Events Productions from going forward with a movie option, has been cleared up.
For those of you who still have no idea what “Voltron” is, the story revolves around five people piloting giant-sized lion robot machines that join together to form one mammoth robot that fights evil alien invaders. You can watch the run of the ’80 series on YouTube to get a better idea. The current script is being written by Thomas Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer who penned the upcoming “Conan,” so keep those expectations to a minimum.
World Events executive VP Robert Koplar declined to say which studio would land the franchise, but feels pretty confident in saying a 2013 or 2014 theatrical release is the goal. So for those of you bummed about the upcoming “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” being the last of an era, there is more robot-smashing goodness to come.