Atlas Entertainment is developing a live-action Voltron movie. Producers Charles Roven (The Dark Knight), Richard Suckle (The International) and Steve Alexander have acquired the rights to make a film based on the Japanese anime property after several years in development at various production companies.

The live-action project has been in development since 2004, and interest skyrocketed after the box office success of Michael Bay’s Transformers. Mark Gordon had been developing the project, and geek screenwriter Justin Marks had written a screenplay which adapted the idea as an alien invasion film based on Earth. The project was set up at New Regency but last year was put into turnaround. Relativity Media came on board briefly (One Last Dance helmer Max Makowski was attached to direct), before Atlas acquired the rights.

While talking with Risky Biz, World Events’ Ted Koplar, another producer on the project, compared it to Transformers, saying that “unlike other robotic action movies, ‘Voltron’ is the personification of the human spirit, a quality that will set this movie apart.”

The project has not yet been set up at a studio, but considering that Atlas Entertainment has a overall deal with Warner Bros, its not hard to imagine it ending up there. Warner Bros is also developing another big robot film, Robotech. If both projects do end up at the same studio, it will be interesting to see which one gets pushed into production first (and what that might mean to the second project).

The Voltron concept could be cool if it isn’t dumbed down and geared towards children (worse case scenario is something closer to the Power Rangers). People want to see big giant robots fighting aliens and destroying all that lay in their path. This could be that movie. Plus, unlike Transformers, there is a human element which is already interconnected to the story. I had not read MArks script, but it certainly sounded like good from the descriptions.

It’s not clear if Marks script will be completely abandoned (my educated guess is yes), but it was described as “a post-apocalyptic tale set in New York City and Mexico” which follows “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.” LatinoReview called the script “a fucking masterpiece” and CinemaBlend called it “a well put together, well intentioned, incredibly faithful Voltron script using modern sensibilities.”

Old Dogs

Release Date: November 25, 2009

Genre: Comedy

MPAA Rating: PG

Studio: Walt Disney Pictures

Director: Walt Becker

Screenwriter: David Diamond, David Weissman

Actors/Actresses: John Travolta, Robin Williams, Kelly Preston, Seth Green, Ella Bleu Travolta, Lori Loughlin, Matt Dillon, Conner Rayburn

Plot Summary: Two best friends — one unlucky-in-love divorcee (Robin Williams) and the other a fun-loving bachelor (John Travolta) — have their lives turned upside down when they’re unexpectedly charged with the care of six-year-old twins while on the verge of the biggest business deal of their lives. The not-so-kid-savvy bachelors stumble in their efforts to take care of the twins (newcomers Ella Bleu Travolta and Conner Rayburn), leading to one debacle after another, and perhaps to a new-found understanding of what’s really important in life.

Love Happens

Release Date: September 18, 2009

Genre: Drama

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Studio: Universal Pictures

Director: Brandon Camp

Screenwriter: Brandon Camp, Mike Thompson

Movie Poster: Large Image Below Trailer

Actors/Actresses: Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Dan Fogler, Judy Greer, Martin Sheen, Joe Anderson, John Carroll Lynch

Plot Summary: Eckhart will play a widower whose book about grieving turns him into a phenomenon. Reinvented as a charismatic self-help guru, he falls for a woman at a seminar and is forced to confront the fact that he hasn’t come to grips with his own loss.

9

Release Date: September 9, 2009

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

MPAA Rating: PG-13

Movie Poster: Large Image Below Trailer

Studio: Focus Features

Director: Shane Acker

Screenwriter: Pamela Pettler

Actors/Actresses: Elijah Wood, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover

Plot Summary: A new era in animated storytelling begins on 9.9.09. Visionary filmmakers Tim Burton (”The Corpse Bride,” “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”) and Timur Bekmambetov (”Wanted,” “Nightwatch”) join forces to produce wunderkind director Shane Acker’s distinctively original and thrilling tale. “9″ stars Elijah Wood, John C. Reilly, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, Christopher Plummer and Crispin Glover and features the music of Danny Elfman.

When 9 (”The Lord of the Ring’s” Elijah Wood) first comes to life, he finds himself in a post-apocalyptic world. All humans are gone, and it is only by chance that he discovers a small community of others like him taking refuge from fearsome machines that roam the earth intent on their extinction. Despite being the neophyte of the group, 9 convinces the others that hiding will do them no good. They must take the offensive if they are to survive, and they must discover why the machines want to destroy them in the first place. As they’ll soon come to learn, the very future of civilization may depend on them.