Robotech

Let’s brainstorm for a moment. A year ago, I tell you that Sony Pictures is giving $100 million dollars to the screenwriter of Pan and the director of Mama to make a blockbuster summer movie. Furthermore, this $100 million dollar movie will be based on a popular animated television series from the 1980s. What is your gut reaction? Are you surprised? Dismayed? Cautiously optimistic? Now what if I tell you the exact same thing, but instead of Pan and Mama, I mention Wonder Woman and It, two of the most critically and commercial successful movies of 2017? Just goes to show you how much things can change in Hollywood over just a few months.

Andres Muschietti is fast becoming a highly demanded director in Hollywod, especially after what looks like a big success with his It movie. Muschietti has signed on to direct a live-action adaptation of anime Robotech, and has said he wants to do Stephen King’s Pet Sematary next after he’s finished with It. Which might be sooner rather than later, as the director plans to start working on It 2 before touching anything else.

Andres Muschietti is really giving another meaning to ‘It’ director. The filmmaker behind the upcoming film adaptation of Stephen King’s classic horror novel recently signed on to replace Scott Derrickson at the helm of Hulu’s Locke & Key pilot, but that’s not the only project on his plate: Sony has reportedly tapped Muschietti to direct their long-developing, live-action Robotech movie.

Furious 7 is the fourth highest grossing movie of all time. Ever. In film history. Number four, after Avatar, Titanic, and The Avengers. $1.5 billion at the box office and counting. A lot of the credit for that success goes to its longtime stars and creators who’ve kept the franchise running for 15 years through highs and lows. But some of the credit also goes to James Wan, who stepped in to direct the film after longtime franchise steward Justin Lin left the series, and who managed to keep the movie and its crew together following the tragic death of star Paul Walker. He delivered a really satisfying Fast & Furious that simultaneously served as a lovely tribute to Walker. It was an incredibly difficult job, and Wan nailed it.

Following his detour into action filmmaking with Furious 7, director James Wan talked about returning to the horror genre, which is exactly what he did, returning to the helm for The Conjuring 2. But just when he thought he was out of the action genre, they may have just pulled him back in — Sony is eyeing the director to take on their live-action Robotech film.

You probably shouldn’t be surprised about new films based on classic cartoons (or board games…or video games…or your childhood toothbrush) because these things have become as inevitable as sequels, or the new trend of mapping out entire franchises before the first film even hits the screen. Today in “That Thing You Vaguely Remember Liking in Your Childhood is Getting a Movie Now,” there are now plans in motion to bring two anime properties to the big screen in live-action format: ‘Astro Boy’ and ‘Robotech.’

Though it in no way compares to the news of J.J. Abrams directing the next 'Star Wars' movie, another science fiction series that sells a lot of toys got a helmer today. Warner Brothers hired commericals director Nic Mathieu to bring 'Robotech' to the big screen.