After years of delays, it looks likeVoltronis finally ready to defend the universe on the big screen. The first-ever live-action version of the durable giant-robot franchise has cast its male lead and will be filming in Australia later this year.The Hollywood Reporterhas the news thatDaniel Quinn-Toyewill play the lead in the Amazon MGM Studios film.
A relative newcomer to the screen, Quinn-Toye recently served asSpider-ManstarTom Holland’s understudy in a production ofRomeo and Julietthis past summer; he also guest-starred on the BBC seriesBadults, and appeared as an extra on an episode ofOutlander. There’s no word on what role he’ll be playing, although his relative youth may mean he’s playing some version of Pidge, the youngest and most intellectual of Voltron’s five pilots; however, he is also described as the film’s lead, which could indicate that he’s playing Voltron team leader Keith. Additional casting for the film is in progress, including for the film’s female lead.The projecthas been in the works since 2005, but has been plagued by delays, lawsuits, and the bankruptcy of Relativity Meda, the company that was to have produced it.
What Is ‘Voltron’ About?
An Americanization of the Japanese anime seriesBeast King GoLion,Voltron: Defender of the Universefirst aired in 1984. It follows five pilots (Keith, Lance, Pidge, Hunk, and Princess Allura), each of whom controls a giant mechanical lion; the lions can combine to form the giant robot warrior Voltron. Together, they defend the planet Arus from the tyrannical King Zarkon, his diabolical son Prince Lotor, and the sinister witch Haggar, who conjures monstrous creatures called Robeasts. The series, which was one of the first mecha anime to be imported to the English-speaking world, was a huge success in America. It spawned several sequel and reboot series, including the early CG cartoonVoltron: The 3rd Dimension, as well as a vast array of merchandise. Its most recent animated series,Voltron: Legendary Defender, was produced for Netflix by Dreamworks Animation, and ran for 78 episodes between 2016 and 2018.
Voltronwill be directed byRawson Marshall Thurber(Red Notice), who will also write the script withEllen Shanman(The In-Betweens of Holly Malone). It will be produced byTodd Liebermanvia Hidden Pictures, World Events Productions’Bob Koplar, Thurber, and Hobie Films’David Hoberman.
Voltronwill film in Australia this fall;no release date has yet been announced. Stay tuned to Collider for future updates.
