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July 20, 2009

Hollywood Is Developing A Voltron Movie, Which Will Appeal To Blacks

thumbnail icon: Hollywood Is Developing A Voltron Movie, Which Will Appeal To Blacks

So, they are developing a Voltron movie. If it makes even half as much sense as Transformers 2: Revhuh of the Fawhatnow? this thing is going to be huge. From Hollywood Reporter:

The producers behind "Get Smart" and "The International" (and Roven of course also produced "The Dark Knight) have acquired the rights to make a live-action feature based on the robot-lion property, pushing the project forward after several years in development with the Mark Gordon Company.

"Voltron," a television hit in the 1980's that has retained a loyal fan following, features a "Transformers"-like conceit, in which a band of five robot-lions combine to form one super lion. A group of five pilots control the lions, which are charged with defending the planet Arus from villain King Zarkon, who dispatches evil creatures called Robobeats to fight the Voltron robots.

Based on Japanese anime properties Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV, "Voltron" aired only for two years on U.S. television, in 1984 and 1985, when Japanese pop-culture had not yet penetrated the American mainstream.

But the title caught the same wave of interest that carried "Transformers," "Gobots" and other mythic stories about shape-shifting robots, and also prompted a popular line of toys.

In the nearly 25 years since it went off the air, the property has remained a favorite in diverse communities, from the fanboy to the hip-hop worlds. "It's undeniably impressive that Voltron has sustained itself globally for a quarter of a century," Roven said.

Haha, yes. From the fanboy to the hip hop worlds. Voltron was the United Colors of Benetton of the mythic stories about shape-shifting robot-lions. Unlike Gobots, which was just a straight up shape-shifting robot minstrel show. Eroboracism.

Posted by Gabe at 10:15 AM in ,
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38 Comments

It's just like C-murder was telling me at Comic-Con; Dat nigga Voltron be surrious!

Posted by: TheJesusCodpiece profile link at 07/20/09 10:24 AM | Reply
Score = 12 Vote up Vote down
MuffinsQ

Smoother than a Lexus, now's my turn to wreck this,
Brothers approach and half step, but ain't heard half of it yet, and I bet you're not a fuckin vet
So, when you see me on the real, formin like Voltron
Remember I got deep like a Navy Seal!

Posted by: MuffinsQ profile link at 07/20/09 10:32 AM | Reply
Score = 8 Vote up Vote down
Mitchapalooza

Because if Hollywood is great at catering to two groups it's fanboys and African Americans (the blacks? it's 2009 and racism is dead, right?).

It's too early in the morning for a racist lion that turns into a larger, potentially more racist, lion.

Posted by: Mitchapalooza profile link at 07/20/09 10:42 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
Becca

the intensity of one's racist tendencies are directly proportional to physical size... according to Science.

Posted by: Becca profile link in reply to Mitchapalooza's comment at 07/20/09 12:23 PM | Reply
Score = 6 Vote up Vote down
kathleen11

i've already seen this movie, the final battle is a danceoff on a spaceship. it ends badly for voltron.

Posted by: kathleen11 profile link at 07/20/09 10:43 AM | Reply
Score = 19 Vote up Vote down

sorry, but this isn't news, Gabe. Pharrell Williams has been on-board as an executive producer/score producer on this since way back in 2005. MTV evidence: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1506467/20050727/story.jhtml

i can't find it right now but i also remember him sneaking in a Voltron reference into one of his (Pharrell/NERD/Neptunes) songs a while after the news that he was on that project came out.

Posted by: alull profile link at 07/20/09 10:43 AM | Reply
Score = -7 Vote up Vote down
booferama

Thank you, correctiongum.

Posted by: booferama profile link in reply to alull's comment at 07/20/09 10:52 AM | Reply
Score = 12 Vote up Vote down

no problem. i'm Captain BuzzKill, apparently, this morning. i had no idea reality simple facts were such deterrents to you guys. Lots of Love.

Posted by: alull profile link in reply to booferama's comment at 07/20/09 11:35 AM | Reply
Score = -7 Vote up Vote down

there's an "and" missing somewhere in there.

Posted by: alull profile link in reply to alull's comment at 07/20/09 11:37 AM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down
Ugah

I love puzzles!

Posted by: Ugah profile link in reply to alull's comment at 07/20/09 11:49 AM | Reply
Score = 11 Vote up Vote down
booferama

Oh no! Something is wrong with correctiongum! I do not think he knows how to use the word "deterrents."

Posted by: booferama profile link in reply to alull's comment at 07/20/09 12:01 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
practicallyinformation

Voltron. Motherfuckers NEED TO KNOW!

Posted by: practicallyinformation profile link at 07/20/09 10:44 AM | Reply
Score = 14 Vote up Vote down
Bobby Seger

They not ready.

Posted by: Bobby Seger profile link in reply to practicallyinformation's comment at 07/20/09 12:32 PM | Reply
Score = 10 Vote up Vote down
Bubbles

Yea, but will they use the Lions or the Cars to make Voltron?!

Posted by: Bubbles profile link at 07/20/09 10:47 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Jeezus, anything to make me get the taste of Bruno out of my mouth. WHOA! ZING!

Posted by: turingcub at 07/20/09 10:48 AM | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down
sen_tankerbell

He approved it.

Posted by: sen_tankerbell profile link at 07/20/09 10:59 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I will only see this if they call it "King Beast GoLion: Revenge of the Puppethands Puppetfeet."

Posted by: snothouse at 07/20/09 11:04 AM | Reply
Score = 6 Vote up Vote down

When are they gonna make the power rangers movie? that's the real question.

Posted by: Lesley profile link at 07/20/09 11:09 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down
Carrie

I heard there's talks about beginning production as early as 1995. Open a book!

Posted by: Carrie profile link in reply to Lesley's comment at 07/20/09 11:23 AM | Reply
Score = 13 Vote up Vote down
Mitchapalooza

1995

Posted by: Mitchapalooza profile link in reply to Lesley's comment at 07/20/09 11:35 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
ber

I'm still waiting for Thundercats.

Posted by: ber profile link at 07/20/09 11:12 AM | Reply
Score = 8 Vote up Vote down
booferama

Ho!

Posted by: booferama profile link in reply to ber's comment at 07/20/09 11:30 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
TheRealMatt

Optimus Rhyme

Posted by: TheRealMatt profile link at 07/20/09 11:17 AM | Reply
Score = 16 Vote up Vote down
RobinRubbermaid

The word "robot-lion" is funny.

Posted by: RobinRubbermaid profile link at 07/20/09 11:25 AM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down
Carrie

I don't know why "in which a band of five robot-lions combine to form one super lion" is not the tagline for every film, but clearly whoever does marketing for Hollywood (you know, that one person) has their priorities ALL MESSED UP.

Posted by: Carrie profile link at 07/20/09 11:25 AM | Reply
Score = 5 Vote up Vote down
Josh is like Germany Ambitious and Misunderstood

It's streaming on Hulu all summer. Check that shit son!

Posted by: Josh is like Germany Ambitious and Misunderstood profile link at 07/20/09 11:40 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
Josh is like Germany Ambitious and Misunderstood

SHIT! That was supposed to be @ Lesley.

Posted by: Josh is like Germany Ambitious and Misunderstood profile link in reply to Josh is like Germany Ambitious and Misunderstood's comment at 07/20/09 11:41 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Don't worry, I got it - along with all the thumbs downs. Innocent mistake, guys! Everyone gets one!

Posted by: Lesley profile link in reply to Josh is like Germany Ambitious and Misunderstood's comment at 07/20/09 11:49 AM | Reply
Score = 4 Vote up Vote down
Andy

Wu-Tang Clan had better be all over this shit cameo-wise. "He the head. When we form like Voltron the GZA is the head."

Posted by: Andy profile link at 07/20/09 12:03 PM | Reply
Score = 8 Vote up Vote down
Becca

well, i can immediately, off the top of my head, recall a hip hop lyric alluding to Voltron. Check it out.

Welcome to 2003, everyone!

Posted by: Becca profile link at 07/20/09 12:33 PM | Reply
Score = 6 Vote up Vote down

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1PyaWDDN34
At 2:06

Posted by: Tooom profile link in reply to Becca's comment at 07/20/09 2:42 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

though i live in london now, im originally from the LBC and thus feel compelled to remind all you muthafuckas that warren G once pondered whether he should catch the bus to cal state or chill with the VOLTRON crew?
VOLTRON and hip-hop... UNITE!!!
("i add a muthafucka so you ignant niggas hear me" - lauryn hill)

Posted by: buenosueno at 07/20/09 1:16 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down
briewer

"The producers behind 'Get Smart' and 'The International' (and Roven of course also produced 'The Dark Knight')..."

What? Why didn't they just say "The producers behind 'Get Smart', 'The International', and 'The Dark Knight'..."? And why don't they use italics like adults?

Posted by: briewer profile link at 07/20/09 1:49 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Has Japanese pop-culture penetrated the American mainstream yet? Did I miss that?

Posted by: Tooom profile link at 07/20/09 2:35 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

If you pirates keep downloading movies for free you are going to kill the movie industry and you will never see brilliant works of this calibre again!

Posted by: Adam Bruneau at 07/20/09 5:25 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
Clive Clemmons

Can I getta Vol-tron?

Answer: Yes.

Posted by: Clive Clemmons profile link at 07/20/09 10:13 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down
Paper Werewolf

Apparently, I'm the only one who remembers these commercials:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkODvs4grqE

Hip Hop and Voltron been had colliding.

Posted by: Paper Werewolf profile link at 07/21/09 2:37 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

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