Robert Rodriguez gives an update on Sin City 2 and Machete Kills

While speaking at SXSW on Tuesday, director Robert Rodriguez had a few updates on some of his upcoming projects, including and expecially, SIN CITY 2 and MACHETE KILLS.  In addition, Rodriguez announced that he would be launching his own animation studio, Quickdraw Animation, which already has two films in the works; a family-themed film and the long-gestating Heavy Metal film. 

Rodriguez said that MACHETE KILLS starts shooting in April, while SIN CITY 2 is likely to start shooting this summer. No casting announcements were made, but he did say they’d “be of the same caliber and eclecticism as the first films.”  He did not address whether or not Frank Miller would be returning to co-direct, but I suspect he will.

If they tackle the Sin City series “A Dame To Kill For,” then I think everyone will be quite happy, as it brings back two favorites, Marv and Dwight, only this time they’re working together.  Plus, it’s got one hell of a badass female role (which has long been rumored to be a good fit for Angelina Jolie…and, yeah, it is).  William Monahan (THE DEPARTED) did a pass on the script a while back, channeling his inner “Frank Miller,” which I see as a solid bonus to the project.

I’m less excited for MACHETE KILLS as I thought the first one was awful, but I know a lot of folks dug it, so it should be good news for them.  The plot for that has Machete recruited by the U.S. Government to “take down a madman cartel leader and an eccentric billionaire arms dealer who has hatched a plan to spread war across the planet with a weapon in space.”  Sounds like the perfect lead-in for Rodriguez’s planned trilogy and taking ol’ Machete into outer space.  Maybe the sequel will be more fun. 

We’ve been holding our breath for a while now on SIN CITY 2, so don’t go up for air just yet.  When casting news starts coming down the pipe, then you can start getting jazzed. 

Stay tuned as these both develop.