Amazon is in talks to acquire the rights to produce the live-action “Voltron” movie based on the hit anime, an individual with knowledge told TheWrap.
While a deal has yet to close, the film has received bids since being introduced on the market as a package in March.
Rawson Marshall Thurber, who recently directed “Red Notice” for Netflix, will direct the “Voltron” film and is attached to co-write the script with Ellen Shanman based on the popular ’80s anime series.
Producing the project are Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman, along with Bob Koplar, the head of World Events Productions, the company that controls the Voltron IP.
“Voltron” is a Japanese anime franchise that first debuted in 1984 in syndication and is about space explorers who pilot giant robots that can combine into one mega robot known as Voltron. The series “Voltron: Defender of the Universe” was the top-rated children’s show in syndication for two years in the ’80s, and the show’s cult following has led to many trying to get a feature film to blast off throughout the 21st century.
Thurber’s “Red Notice” with Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot stands as the most-watched movie in Netflix history, racking up 364 million viewing hours in its first month. He’s planning two more sequels that will be shot back to back, but both projects are still in development. He’s also the director of 2004’s “Dodgeball” and other The Rock hits like “Skyscraper” and “Central Intelligence.”
Thurber is represented by WME and Hansen Jacobson. Shanman is represented by UTA, Kaplan/Perrone and Joan Vento-Hall. World Events is represented by Artists First and Frankfurt Kurnit.
Deadline first reported the news.
