Exclusive: New Live-Action Voltron Movie In The Works
Voltron is headed to the big screen.
This article is more than 2 years old
Voltron: Defender of the Universe first premiered in Japan as Beast King GoLion in 1981 but it would rise to prominence when it was dubbed and reconfigured into an English series in 1984. The cartoon was a hit and has continued to spawn new versions over the years including a highly-celebrated Netflix series that ran for a total of 8 seasons. Considering how often Netflix shows get canceled, that is impressive. There is no doubt that fans are still craving more of the giant robot. So, it feels appropriate that Giant Freakin Robot has some exclusive news that will make fans of the franchise very happy.
According to one of our trusted and proven inside sources, Voltron is headed to the big screen with a live-action adaptation. Universal is the studio that will be developing the movie. This isn’t the first time the franchise has been tapped for a film adaptation. However, it seemed that the plan was to make an animated feature film. We are hearing that Universal wants to make this Voltron in live-action. It certainly sounds like they have faith this could be a major tentpole movie for them.
But, there is one other facet to this news we are hearing that has us scratching our heads. Our source is saying that Universal is interested in having Michael Bay direct the Voltron movie. This makes sense from a producer’s viewpoint as Michael Bay was responsible for making another giant robot franchise one of the biggest moneymakers in recent years. However, fans might be a little worried that Michael Bay would bring a certain level of over-stylization and attitude that might not mesh with what people expect from a Voltron movie. It seems like the wrong fit for a series that prides itself on being vibrant and accessible to all audiences.
Regardless of whether or not Michael Bay actually does attach himself to the project – we should reiterate that we are hearing Universal is simply interested in the director at this point – it sounds like Voltron will be headed back into development as a major motion picture. One has to wonder if it will manage to capture a wide audience or if it will only appeal to current fans of the franchise. If you look at a movie like the recent Power Rangers – which seems like a fair comparison considering their similar narrative frameworks – it seems like audiences need something a little more from these particular adaptations. Will Voltron be able to find an angle that clicks with those who don’t have a vested interest in the property?
We will simply have to wait and see just how this new approach to Voltron shakes out. The info we are getting is the earliest rumblings of the project starting to take root, so everything is up in the air at this point. Whether or not Michael Bay actually ends up directing the movie is equally nebulous as of now. Hopefully, we can hear some more definitive news about the project as it starts to take shape.
