In 2010, Ethan Maniquis and Robert Rodriguez's MACHETE – a film spawned from a faux trailer Rodriguez shot for GRINDHOUSE in 2007 – ended with the promise that the titular character would return in two more films: MACHETE KILLS and MACHETE KILLS AGAIN. When MACHETE KILLS reached theatres in 2013, it featured a faux trailer for the next movie in the franchise, which was now called MACHETE KILLS AGAIN… IN SPACE.
Six years have passed and we still haven't seen MACHETE KILLS AGAIN… IN SPACE, even though franchise star Danny Trejo has repeatedly said that the movie was actually going to happen. In that time, Rodriguez has been busy working on SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR (a sequel that came along way too late, 9 years after its predecessor), ALITA: BATTLE ANGEL, several episodes of From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, and a horror film called RED 11. Now Rodriguez is gearing up to make the superhero movie WE CAN BE HEROES for Netflix. And Trejo is getting tired of waiting for him to get back around to Machete.
Speaking with Syfy Wire, Trejo said MACHETE KILLS AGAIN… IN SPACE is "bogged down in bullshit", and if Rodriguez doesn't get to it soon he's going to make it himself.
I might just produce it and (direct) it, if (Rodriguez) don't get off his buns! Everybody wants this, I mean, everybody in the world. I've been asked that all over the world. "Hey, are you going to do Machete in Space?"
When asked if IN SPACE has been on the backburner because Rodriguez has been too busy for it, Trejo replied,
Who knows. It was the biggest thing in the world for a while. I mean, you got endless movies doing number six, number seven, number eight. And Machete had a great story to it, you know what I mean? I might try to figure out how to do that myself."
Trejo said he has "some great ideas" for MACHETE KILLS AGAIN… IN SPACE, and he's currently working on the script.
If Trejo does make his directorial debut with a Machete movie, I would totally be on board to check it out. I say he should go ahead and set this plan in motion.