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.
