Coming from Amazon MGM Studios and director Rawson Marshall Thurber (Red Notice), a live-action film adaptation of the classic mecha anime Voltron is set to head into production in Australia next month, and The Wrap has broken the news that the latest cast additions are Alba Baptista (Warrior Nun), Samson Kayo (The Bubble), and Tharanya Tharan (Year Of).
This trio joins previously announced cast members Henry Cavill (The Witcher), Sterling K. Brown (This Is Us), Rita Ora (Fifty Shades of Grey), John Kim (The Last Thing He Told Me), and newcomer Daniel Quinn-Toye, who served as Tom Holland’s understudy in the West End production of Romeo and Juliet and also played Paris, a suitor of Juliet.
Based on the Japanese sci-fi series Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV, Voltron centers around five young pilots whose vehicles join together to form the towering mech known as Voltron. The classic TV show was edited together from several Japanese anime series and originally ran in the mid-80s. Voltron spawned several sequel series, including Voltron: Legendary Defender, which spanned eight seasons on Netflix. Thurber has written the screenplay for the film with Ellen Shanman.
While addressing the crowd at VoltCon in Indianapolis via video, Thurber said, “I want to make sure that we stay true to the heart and the spirit of Voltron. In this film, we’re going to be introducing an entirely new generation of pilots. We’ve reimagined Voltron for the live-action world, but we’re going to stay true to…those iconic elements that you love, that I love.”
Voltron is being produced by Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman, along with Bob Koplar, the head of World Events Productions and owner of the Voltron IP.
I haven’t watched an episode of Voltron since the ’80s, but I remember loving the show when I was a kid, so I’ll be interested to see how this movie turns out… and I might even revisit some classic Voltron while I’m waiting.
Are you looking forward to the live-action adaptation of Voltron? What do you think of Alba Baptista, Samson Kayo, and Tharanya Tharan joining the cast? Let us know by leaving a comment below.