I loved the Robert Rodriguez/Quentin Tarantino double feature experiment GRINDHOUSE, which somehow already celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The experiment didn't result in box office success, but it did result in a movie-going experience that was a hell of a lot of fun for me. In my idea of a perfect world, GRINDHOUSE would have been the start of an entire franchise of old school style double features.
We didn't get any further GRINDHOUSE pairings, but one of the film's faux trailers, Rodriguez's MACHETE, did get expanded into a feature starring Danny Trejo as the titular blade-wielding badass. MACHETE wasn't quite what I expected it to be, but I still got some enjoyment from it.
The sequel, MACHETE KILLS, I didn't like very much at all. That one went way too over-the-top for my taste, ending up a cartoony, bonkers mess of a film.
Even though I found MACHETE underwhelming and didn't like MACHETE KILLS, I do think that Rodriguez needs to deliver the promised third chapter in the Machete saga. At the end of MACHETE, we were told that Machete would return in two more films – MACHETE KILLS and MACHETE KILLS AGAIN. The sequel reiterated this promise, even going so far as to feature a faux trailer for the third film – which was given the longer title MACHETE KILLS AGAIN… IN SPACE.
The faux trailer and concept made it look like MACHETE KILLS AGAIN… IN SPACE would just be more over-the-top absurdity that wouldn't appeal to me, but the films promised we'd get it, so Rodriguez should finish his story.
Four years have passed since the release of MACHETE KILLS with no signs of …IN SPACE heading toward production, but during a recent Yahoo Q&A with Danny Trejo the franchise star said that the trilogy capper will be happening.
I've already talked to Robert, Robert said, 'I'm with ya, put it together, let's start writing it.' Then I talked to Mel Gibson, I said, 'Mel, come on, let's do the MACHETE KILLS IN SPACE.' Mel says, 'I'm in, I'm ready, tell Robert.' So now we're gonna do it, yeah."
Mel Gibson would be reprising the role of the villainous Voz from MACHETE KILLS.
So there you go, Trejo is putting the wheels in motion to send Machete to space so he can kill again.