Amazon Studios is getting closer to landing the film rights to Voltron from the director of Red Notice. Based on a Japanese program, the series focuses on a group of space adventures who pilot robot lions that can combine into a giant form. The series exploded in popularity in the 1980s when it was syndicated in the United States as Voltron: Defender of the Universe. The franchise had a new resurgence in 2016 with Netflix Voltron: Legendary Defender.
Attempts to make a Voltron movie have been in various stages of development since 2005. Before revealed as an original film, many thought that Cloverfield was a secret Voltron film due to many people mishearing one of the lines in the movie as "it's a lion, it's huge." The most recent report was that Rawson Marshall Thurber, who directed the film Red Notice for Netflix and the director of the hit comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, was set to helm a live-action Voltron movie that had united a bidding war.
According to Deadline, Amazon is reportedly close to landing the film rights to Voltron, although no deal has been signed yet. The studio reportedly has come out ahead of Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures, who were also in the running for the film rights. Despite working with Thurber on Red Notice and producing the Voltron: Legendary Defender animated series, Netflix was not in the running.
Netflix ing on Voltron is interesting given the strong connection with the brand, but the studio is in no short supply of valuable properties. Netflix recently acquired The Masters of the Universe film rights from Sony Pictures. Netflix has invested heavily in He-Man with Kevin Smith's Masters of the Universe: Revelations, ND Stevenson She-Ra and the Princess of Power, and the kid-centric CGI animated He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. Netflix also is producing a Gundam movie by Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts so the studio likely is alright letting go of Voltron.
Amazin Studios acquiring Voltron also speaks to the tech company's attempt to grow its catalog with various IPs. The studio recently acquired MGM, which gave them access to film franchises like James Bond and Robocop. A significant property like Voltron is likely to draw viewers to their streaming service. It will be interesting to see if the film is an Amazon Prime exclusive or if Amazon gives the film a theatrical release as they have with movies like The Big Sick, Manchester by the Sea, and Being the Richardos.
Next: Why Netflix Has So Many He-Man Shows Right Now
Source: Deadline
