Voltron (film)

Last updated

Voltron
Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber
Screenplay by
  • Rawson Marshall Thurber
  • Ellen Shanman
Story byRawson Marshall Thurber
Based on Voltron
by World Events Productions
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMarkus Förderer
Production
companies
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Voltron is an upcoming American science fiction action film directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber from a script co-written with Ellen Shanman. The film is a live-action adaptation of Voltron produced by Bob Koplar for Amazon MGM. It stars newcomer Daniel Quinn-Toye in his feature film debut, alongside Henry Cavill, Sterling K. Brown, Rita Ora, John Harlan Kim, Alba Baptista, Samson Kayo, Tharanya Tharan, Laura Gordon, and Tim Griffin.

Contents

Premise

Five piloted Robot Lions can combine to form the ultimate humanoid robot, Voltron, to battle evil.

Cast

Production

Previous attempts

In July 2005, producer Mark Gordon ( Grey's Anatomy , The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen ) announced plans to create a live-action film adaptation of the Voltron franchise in collaboration with producers Pharrell Williams, Mark Costa, and Frank Oelman. Pharrell Williams was also reported to compose the musical score for the film. [1] The project's development was funded by Jim Young's Animus Films. [2] In December 2006, screenwriter Enzo Marra was announced to have completed a script for Gordon. [3] In August 2007, the production entity New Regency entered negotiations with The Mark Gordon Company to adapt Voltron. Interest in the property heightened after the box office success of Transformers , another film involving shape-changing robots. [2] Mark's script was described as "a post-apocalyptic tale set in New York City...[in which] 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." [2]

On August 18, 2008, Relativity Media entered negotiations with New Regency to finance and produce the film, though on a more moderate budget, utilizing cost-saving CGI techniques such as those used in 300 . Max Makowski was slated to direct. As of the end of August 2008, the title had been set for Voltron: Defender of the Universe. Relativity would have released the film in North America while New Regency's distribution partner, 20th Century Fox, would handle international distribution. [4] But at that time, Ted Koplar, through his World Events Production Company (Koplar took over the company as the health of Peter Keefe declined; Keefe died in 2010 at age 57), was fighting a legal battle with Toei Company Ltd. over the movie rights as of November of that year. [5] On September 16, 2010, concept art for the movie was released. [6] On March 8, 2011, it was announced that Relativity Media and World Events had entered a bidding war on who would make the film. Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer entered into collaboration on writing the script. [7]

On July 21, 2011, Atlas Entertainment and Relativity Media announced they would bring Voltron: Defender of the Universe to the big screen. [8] Relativity Media would distribute. On July 30, 2015, Relativity filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York after lawsuits and missing loan payments, [9] [10] [11] [12] and the film rights reverted to Classic Media. On November 4, 2016, three months after the completion of NBCUniversal's acquisition of Classic Media's parent company, DreamWorks Animation for $3.8 billion, [13] [14] it was announced that Universal Pictures and DreamWorks Animation will make the film with David Hayter writing the script. [15]

Development

In March 2022, it was announced that the live-action film was officially back in development. Rawson Marshall Thurber had created a story that was pitched to studios for further development. Thurber planned to direct as well and co-write the full screenplay with Ellen Shanman, and Todd Lieberman, David Hoberman, and Bob Koplar would produce. [16] Amazon MGM Studios announced that it was in negotiations for the distribution rights of the film in April. [17] In October 2024, newcomer Daniel Quinn-Toye was cast in the lead role, alongside Henry Cavill. [18] [19] In November, Sterling K. Brown, Rita Ora, John Harlan Kim, Alba Baptista, Samson Kayo, Tharanya Tharan, Laura Gordon, and Tim Griffin joined the cast. [20] [21] [22]

Filming

Principal photography began in December 2024, in Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia using the Village Roadshow Studios. [18] [23] [24]

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References

  1. ↑ Stax (July 26, 2005). "Voltron Targets Hollywood". IGN. Archived from the original on March 31, 2012. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Marc Graser (August 9, 2007). "Voltron gets bigscreen go". Variety. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  3. ↑ Pamela McClintock; Nicole Laporte (October 29, 2006). "'Street Fighter' packs Hyde Park punch". Variety . Archived from the original on January 23, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Some action on the Voltron movie". Cinecon.com. August 18, 2008. Archived from the original on April 25, 2009. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
  5. ↑ "Lawsuit Launched over Proposed Live-Action Voltron Film". Anime News Network. November 18, 2008. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Concept Art from Voltron Feature Pitch". Collider.com. September 16, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  7. ↑ Brodesser, Claude (August 19, 2014). "A Bidding War Breaks Out to Finally Make a Big-Budget Voltron - Vulture". Nymag.com. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  8. ↑ Relativity Media (July 21, 2011). "Relativity Media and Atlas Entertainment to Bring Voltron to Big Screen" (Press release). Archived from the original on April 25, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Relativity Media Chapter 11 Petition" (PDF). PacerMonitor. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  10. ↑ Patten, Dominic; Fleming Jr., Mike. (July 30, 2015). "Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media Finally Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Chapter 11 Petition" (PDF). PacerMonitor. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Relativity Creditors Reach Settlement Over Big Hits Like 'Bridesmaids,' 'Fast and Furious 6'". The Hollywood Reporter. January 9, 2016. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  13. ↑ James, Meg (April 28, 2016). "Comcast's NBCUniversal buys DreamWorks Animation in $3.8-billion deal". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  14. ↑ Dave McNary (August 22, 2016). "Comcast Completes $3.8 Billion DreamWorks Animation Purchase". Variety. Archived from the original on October 24, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  15. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 4, 2016). "Universal Inherits DWA Live-Action Voltron Film; David Hayter Scripting". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  16. ↑ Kit, Borys (March 23, 2022). "Live-Action Voltron Movie, With Rawson Marshall Thurber to Direct, Ignites Bidding War (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . PMRC.
  17. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 19, 2022). "Amazon in Talks to Pick Up Voltron With 'Red Notice' Filmmaker Rawson Marshall Thurber to Direct". The Hollywood Reporter . PMRC. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
  18. 1 2 Kit, Borys (October 2, 2024). "Tom Holland's West End Understudy Daniel Quinn-Toye Nabs Starring Role in Amazon MGM's Voltron (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 2, 2024.
  19. ↑ Kit, Borys (October 10, 2024). "Henry Cavill to Star in Voltron for Amazon MGM (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  20. ↑ Kit, Borys (November 25, 2024). "Sterling K. Brown, Rita Ora, John Kim to Star in Voltron for Amazon MGM (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
  21. ↑ Gonzalez, Umberto (November 26, 2024). "Alba Baptista Samson Kayo and Tharanya Tharan to Form Voltron in Amazon MGM Live-Action Movie (Exclusive)". TheWrap . Retrieved November 26, 2024.
  22. ↑ Stephan, Katcy (November 27, 2024). "Voltron Movie Adds Laura Gordon and Tim Griffin (Exclusive)". Variety . Penske Media Corporation.
  23. ↑ Peters, Megan (November 4, 2024). "Voltron Director Teases Hollywood's Live-Action Vision: Watch". ComicBook.com . Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  24. ↑ Geisinger, Gabriella (December 11, 2024). "Amazon MGM Studios' live-action Voltron begins filming in Australia". KFTV.com . Media Business Insight.
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