After the resounding success of this year’s Transformers, it seems the animated-robot genre has been officially revived. Voltron, a 1984 animated series about five space explorers, their beastly robot cars, and the eponymous, significantly larger robot they all become, is on its way to the big screen with Voltron: Defender of the Universe. After years on the shelf, Transformers has suddenly given the project a bit more appeal, and according to producer Mark Gordon, it’s going to be big.
Screenwriter Justin Marks has tweaked the original storyline, setting the film on a post-apocalyptic Earth where five survivors of an alien invasion take control of some lion-shaped robots to stop the next attack. Marks, a self-proclaimed fan of the series, has also penned another 80s-inspired script soon to hit the screen: Masters of the Universe in 2009.
As special effects inch ever closer to photorealism, who can help but be excited about another cherished childhood cartoon coming to life on the big screen? Look for Voltron: Defender of the Universe in theaters next year.
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It seems like we’ve heard this before: An animated TV show about giant robots is going to be turned into a blockbuster movie. We’ve seen it once with Transformers, as Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox drew in hundreds of millions of dollars under the direction of Michael Bay. Now, New Regency is hoping to do the same thing with Voltron: Defender of the Universe.
New Regency, the 20th Century Fox-based production company is nearing a deal with the Mark Gordon Co. to adapt the Voltron series to the big screen. Gordon has been developing the film, with Justin Marks penning the script based on the hugely popular 1980s Japanese animated TV series, and the subsequent comic books and toy line.
If the deal becomes reality, it will mark one of the most high-profile projects for Regency Filmed Entertainment since Robert Harper was brought in as chairman and CEO of the company. As Transformers is just shy of breaking $600 million worldwide, the idea of launching Voltron as a big-screen movie has reached a peak. New Regency is looking to start a franchise with Voltron, as they haven’t managed a blockbuster hit since the 2005 film, Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In order to get back to the earlier successes, New Regency has Alvin and the Chipmunks ready to release, as well as Jumper, Mirrors and the Eddie Murphy project, Starship Dave.
According to Variety, the Justin Marks script for Voltron “is described as a post-apocalyptic tale set in New York City and Mexico. Five ragtag survivors of an alien attack band together and end up piloting the five lion-shaped robots that combine and form the massive sword-wielding Voltron that helps battle Earth’s invaders.”
With the addition of Justin Marks as the screenwriter for Voltron, Marks is establishing himself as the go-to guy for Hollywood remakes of comic books, video games and toy-based. Marks has signed on to adapt He-Man and the Masters of the Universe, as well as the Green Arrow pic, Supermax, and is starting to work on an adaptation of Street Fighter. On the official Voltron Web site, Justin Marks said, “As for what to expect from the movie, all I can say is…think BIG”
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