Battle of the Planets movie to be penned by F9 screenwriter Daniel Casey

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

It was announced at San Diego Comic-Con 2019 that Joe and Anthony Russo were developing a big-screen adaptation of Battle of the Planets, one of the most successful anime series in the United States during the 1970s. We haven't heard all that much about the project in the meantime, but it seems that the film now has a writer: Daniel Casey, who penned the most recent installment of the Fast & Furious franchise.

Known as Gatchaman in Japan, Battle of the Planets followed "five young orphans who are trained from a young age to form an elite, intergalactic team known as G-Force, swearing to protect Earth and its allies from otherworldly invading forces." Daniel Casey will be working with Joe and Anthony Russo as well as Tatsunoko Productions, the studio behind the original anime series, in order to "explore and expand" the Battle of the Planets universe. In a statement, Joe and Anthony Russo said:

We are thrilled to be working with a collaborator of Dan’s caliber on this beloved property. His passion, attention to detail, and thirst for innovation will no doubt delight fans of the IP while making a thoughtful introduction for newcomers. He is pioneer at heart and the perfect partner as we set out to lay the foundation of a universe which will engage audiences on a meaningful level and across the media landscape.

Daniel Casey added, "I’ve been a fan of Joe and Anthony going all the way back to Welcome to Collinwood and I’m so grateful they’ve entrusted me with this epic and cinematic story." Judging by what the Russo Brothers and Daniel Casey have said, it's clear that they have big plans for developing Battle of the Planets into a full-fledged cinematic universe. No director is attached at this point, but when the Battle of the Planets movie was originally announced, Joe and Anthony Russo didn't rule out directing the project themselves.