Having been off and on at various points over the decades, Sony Pictures has announced that they have picked up the rights to a live-action version of ROBOTECH.

As alluded to, this is something that has been in development at several times over the years, but Sony are supposedly looking to seriously start moving forward on the project sooner rather than later with “the intention of moving quickly toward production of a future global franchise.”

ROBOTECH itself is a classic anime that first appeared back in the 1980s, becoming an edited mixture of THE SUPER DIMENSION FORTRESS MACROSS, SUPER DIMENSION CAVALRY SOUTHERN CROSS and GENESIS CLIMBER MOSPEADA. Premise-wise, ROBOTECH is set at a place in time with the Earth has developed giant robots from alien technology, using this new tech to defend themselves against alien invasions.

In terms of Sony, Gianni Nunnari and Mark Canton are to produce the franchise, with 300’s Michael Gordon penning the screenplay. Doug Belgrad, Michael De Luca and Frank Agrama will oversee proceedings, with executive producing credits for Jehan Agrama and original rights holder Frank Agrama.

The official press release on this news reads as below:

“‘Robotech’ is unique in that it has always been a marriage of spectacle with human characters that seem drawn from life,” says De Luca. “That’s why we are so excited to be working with Mark and Gianni as we move forward on this project. With a history that offers an epic love triangle, a renegade hero, and a world on the brink of extinction, ‘Robotech’ offers a wide scope and a rich and impressive universe where the story possibilities are endless.”

“When the rights to ‘Robotech’ became available we jumped,” adds Nunnari. “Mark and I knew it had what big movies in today’s world must have if they want to grab everyone: insane visuals AND powerful themes. The characters in ‘Robotech’ wrestle with both the destructive and redemptive powers of technology; nothing is more relevant today than that.”

“I’m thrilled to be back in business with Sony Pictures and Gianni and I look forward to working with the studio on this global franchise-driven opportunity,” says Canton. “‘Robotech’ is a very significant and legendary part of the growth of anime into the force that it is today, and we’re excited to be adapting it for modern audiences.”

“Patience is a virtue,” continues Agrama. “We at Harmony Gold have waited 30 years for the chips to fall in place. Finally they have, and finally our dreams have come true. I am sure that our fans and the public at large will be flabbergasted with what they will hear and see on the screen. Thank you Gianni, Mark, Ralph and above all, all of the Columbia Pictures people involved.”

The deal on behalf of Harmony Gold and the producers was negotiated by Ralph P Brescia of Bloom Hergott.

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