Source: Variety | Collider | MTV

About a year ago, PCM reported that the hit 1980s cartoon TV series Voltron would be adapted into a live-action movie by the producers of The Dark Knight. Well, since September, those plans have been done away with because of a lawsuit that happened between the owners of the television rights and the owners of the movie rights.

Now, Variety is reporting that the franchise will now in fact be adapted into a new, revamped cartoon series, similar to what is happening with ThunderCats.

The new cartoon series, called Voltron Force, is set to debut on Nicktoons some time next year and will be 26 half-hour episodes. The basic plot “will still be about five space explorers who pilot robotic lions that combine to form Voltron, an invincible guardian sworn to defend the Universe,” according to Collider. Variety says the series will be faithful to what has come before in the franchise, but also will be “introducing new recruits to fight alongside the original characters.”

Sounds good to me. I remember loving this franchise growing up, although, I must confess, I haven’t seen the show since then.   It is good to know that the 80s is making a comeback in the form of movies and cartoons (Transformers, Smurfs, Masters of the Universe, ThunderCats, etc.). Let’s hope they handle this remake well.

Update: Well, it looks like the Voltron live-action movie is in fact not dead and is still in development, according to MTV‘s interview with producers Ted Koplar and Richard Suckle, and that a big announcement regarding the film is imminent. Here’s a quote from the interview:

As a matter of fact, we’ve been working over the last several months meeting with various screenwriters, and we’re actually on the cusp of securing an A-level screenwriter who’s going to write the “Voltron” movie. That’s all part of the plan here: reintroducing the brand to the fans who’ve watched over the last 25 years and to a new generation. We are very close to securing a screenwriter who’s going to actually write the feature version — so that’s always been part of the plan.

I’m actually glad that this is still happening. I was fine with there only being a new animated series, but it is totally cool with me that the live-action version is still on the horizon. From what it sounds like in the interview, they have a clear vision of where to take the film in terms of story and character, as well as the visual aspect of it. This sounds like it could be pretty cool.

Head on over to MTV for the full interview.