TO BE CONSIDERED: Robert Rodriguez For STAR WARS Universe

We've seen Disney take risks having Joss Whedon helming the Avengers with Serenity (a box office bomb) being his only feature film. It led to Marvel/Disney hiring James Gunn to write/direct their sci-fi epic Guardians of The Galaxy. Gunn who is best known for directing shockingly graphic violent movies came out of left field as well. Would it be possible to see Disney take another big chance with a director on one of these Star Wars offshoots? If so, my vote has to go to Robert Rodriquez.



Robert has been one of the more prolific directors of his generation. His first film El Marchi was made with only a budget of $7,000 and was released in 1993. He's since gone on to make eighteen other features . These projects have been a mix of kids films and action spectacles. Robert's directing slate doesn't seem to be filled up at this point. Since he completed Machete Kills and is currentling shooting Sin City 2 it's possible he could be up for another new venture very soon. Fire and Ice is his next feature based on the epic fantasy animated film which will shoot after Sin City 2 is done. There is speculation that Machete Kills Again/Machete In Space will be other possible projects for him. If Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For is successful expect to see development on Sin City 3 go forward as well.

BOUNTY HUNTERS & SMUGGLERS: So we're pretty much in the dark when it comes to the characters used in Star Wars 1313. The video game features a bounty hunter navigating the planet Coruscant's subterranean level 1313 underworld as they try to uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy. Rumors have pointed a young Boba Fett is a strong possibility but nothing has been confirmed. If it turns out Boba is the main character than I expect this will end up thrown into Joe Johnston's Boba Fett film. The world of smugglers and space pirates could be another avenue within the universe.

This seedy world seems perfect for Rodriguez and he's been dying to make a science fiction film.  Roriguez had been attached to direct a Barbarella remake and a live-action Jetsons film. Predators was his baby as he played producer on the Predator reboot calling the creative shots. Nerverackers was going to be his homage to Blade Runner but the film has been struck in development hell. Robert is taking his exploitation action hero Machete into space with Machete Kills Again: In Space and is using Star Wars as reference. The director like others responded to the Star Wars news via EW which was positive. Lucas apparently introduced Robert to digital cameras and has been using them ever since.

"What an amazing world and legacy George Lucas has created — and it needs to continue in capable hands. I do think Disney is the best studio for the job and the fact that they brought in Kathleen Kennedy? I can’t imagine a better scenario. And 2015 can’t get here fast enough." 

SPECULATION: Could 'MACHETE KILLS' End Up A Bond-Style Sci-Fi Actioner?

It's looking like the original plot synopsis for Machete Kills was a total fake. Robert Rodriguez tells Empire the whole thing was a to mislead. In fact he states no cartel leader is even involved a departure from the original film. He went on to say that the film still involves space and they're giving him a bigger playground. I get the impression that a space station/prison or off-world colony could be involved here. Robert fell in love with the idea of Mexicans in space, previously stated that Machete Kills Again would end up in space with babes and lightsabers. Moonraker was mentioned as an inspiration for Machete Kills Again and Bond is mentioned for this film. Could Machete Kills be moving into the science fiction genre early?

“That synopsis we put out is misdirection — it’s all fake. Machete is recruited by the President, that’s true, but there’s no cartel leader and the weapon in space is just one of our early story ideas."


"There is still a space element, for sure. We’ve given the character a much bigger playground. It’s going to be like a James Bond movie, with a Bond-style villain.”

A release date has been given for Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For which will shoot later this year. However, Machete Kills which begins production soon has a full cast yet zero release date set. The impression I get is that a lot of special effects will be involved, Rodriguez is famous for the sheer volume of in camera effects. So this helps the speculation that this might be more science fiction focused than previously believed.

It could be possible Robert and the gang are putting the big guy into space earlier than expected. The writer/director has always had an obsession with the genre. The Spy Kids franchise has always had multiple sci-fi aspects. Barbarella was going to be Robert's first full-on science fiction film, it had sets and costumes ready to go but the studio pulled the plug at the last minute. Robert was also set for a live-action Jetsons movie which also never came together. One of his dream projects was a Predator sequel which he wrote back in the 90's. Fox would hire him to write and produce Predators which was oddly enough was a solid successful effort with a second installment in the works. Planet Terror was the closet thing we've gotten from Robert which also had sci-fi plot points but was more of remake of the Italian horror film Nightmare City.

The man on a presidential mission theme leads back to Robert's nature for homages. Perhaps this will be a call back to John Carpenter's Escape From New York? Rodriguez has stated when he saw Escape From New York at age 12 he wanted to become a director. It wouldn't be hard to see Machete fighting his way out of a massive prison colony on earth or off-world.

The madame character played by Sofia Vergara gives me thoughts of Paul Verhoeven's Total Recall which had late 80's Mexico City doubling as as futuristic city. Mexico was also the stage location for Mars and the notorious Venusville which was filled with bars/whorehouses.

Robert Rodriguez Says 'MACHETE KILLS AGAIN' Is A Space Opera With Space Babes And Lightsabers

From the little we know about Machete Kills, Mel Gibson's character tries to launch a missile from space to cause a global war. This apparently will lead into the third film which for the most part will be set entirely in space. GordonAndTheWhale had confirmation that both Machete Kills and Machete Kills Again had both been greenlit at the same time. Back during Comic-Con last summer Robert Rodriguez revealed to MTV what's in store for Machete Kills Again which will be a science fiction actioner set in space. Of course this won't be next for Robert as he's expected to shoot Sin City 2: A Dame To Kill For as soon as Machete Kills wraps. After Sin City 2, it's Fire And Ice which then Robert will be busy editing and scoring the three films.

"It is a space opera. It does take place in space. Machete has to go into space," Rodriguez confirmed. "It's so absurd but it makes sense. You've got to go somewhere new in a third part — why not go into space? It's going to be so fun. It's played straight. Remember 'Moonraker'? It's going to be like 'Machete' and 'Moonraker'.....You see him in a space shuttle," Rodriguez told us. "The bad guy escapes the planet. 'Part 3' has to take place in space. Space babes, a machete-shaped lightsaber. You gotta have it!"

While Robert's Troublemaker Studios produced Predators along with Planet Terror and the Spy Kids franchise having science fiction elements, he's never made a full-fledged sci-fi movie. Rodriguez had previously tried to make Barbarella and The Jetsons films but both got the ol' axe. He kept hope to jump into the genre even creating his own original sci-fi concept Nerveracker which was his ode to Blade Runner, that also didn't get traction.