Queer Eye for the Voltron Guy?

by Chris MaGee

Many of you out there of my generation who grew up in the 80's will remember "Voltron: Defender of the Universe", the animated series that aired on North American TV during the middle of that decade. The show which followed the adventures of five young pilots manning five robotic lions that combined to form Voltron was, like many other after school cartoons of that era, an English-dubbed version of a Japaneser series, in this case "Hyakujū Ō GoLion" created by Toei Animation and directed by Hiroshi Sasagawa. Now it seems that "Voltron", also like many of the classic Japanese animated series ("Gatchaman" and "Speed Racer") will be getting a live-action reworking by Hollywood, but it's who the studio has tagged to direct "Voltron" that has me a bit puzzled.

Relativity Media, the production company behind such action hits as "Wanted" and "Hellboy II: The Golden Army" has hired Max Makowski to direct "Voltron". "Max Who?" you may be asking, but then again so did I. It turns out that Makowski worked as a cameraman for NBC as well as having directed some episodes for "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". Huh??? Okay, to be fair he's also currently working on an English remake of Ten Shimoyama's 2005 ninja film "Shinobi: Heart Under Blade", which still doesn't change the fact that this guy cut his teeth directing a cheesy makeover show. Then again... Remake? Makeover? I'm seeing the similarties there. I guess we'll have to suspend our disbelief until "Voltron" sees the light of day. No date has yet been set for the start of production let alone a theatrical release date.

Thanks to Anime News Network for the scoop on this.