'Robotech' Movie News 2015: Anime Film Franchise Planned By Sony
Sony recently acquired the rights to the 1980s anime TV series "Robotech" and they have big plans for it. In this era of franchises, Sony is looking to build a live action film franchise on the science fiction anime series.
According to a report in Variety, Sony is first focusing on the first live action feature film that will kick off the franchise. It was reported that Michael Gordon who wrote "300" and "GI Joe" will work on the script, while Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton of "300" and "The Immortals" will produce the film.
The story will be based on the same premise as the anime series. It will be set in the future where humans are living in space and are making use of robot technology to defend themselves from alien invaders. The report cites that the series' story has the necessary elements that will have universal appeal and so many story possibilities for expansion into a franchise.
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Sony Pictures Entertainment Group President Doug Belgrad, Columbia Pictures Production Chief Michael De Luca who will oversee the project, himself said: "With a history that offers an epic love triangle, a renegade hero, and a world on the brink of extinction, 'Robotech' offers a wide scope and a rich and impressive universe where the story possibilities are endless."
The original "Robotech" series which found its way in the US was made by Harmony Gold. It was adapted from three Japanese series. It ran for three seasons with 85 episodes. Aside from the TV series however, Robotech is also a franchise, with several animated feature films produced following the TV series.
There were earlier plans in 2008 for a live-action film, with Warner Bros. and Tobey MacGuire and Akiva Goldsman as producers. Even Leonardo diCaprio was interested to star in it. A string of writers were associated with the project, but nothing materialized. Warner Bros. final attempt was in 2013 when it tried to get Nic Mathieu to direct.
