Voltron Movie in the Works

Capitalizing on the success of a previous toy/cartoon series-turned-live action movie, 20th Century Fox is creating a live action adaptation of "Voltron: Defender of the Universe," the popular cartoon, comic book, and toy line from the 1980s. The film will be produced under the New Regency imprint.

Producer Mark Gordon has been developing the film for the last three years after acquiring the rights from Animus Films. The project did not make the jump from the drawing board until Michael Bay's "Transformers" became a summer blockbuster, grossing $600 million worldwide to date.

The "Voltron" series, which aired in 1984, was based on the Japanese anime "GoLion." It followed the adventures of five space explorers who seek out and command various robotic lions, all of whom unite to form the sword-slashing mecha robot Voltron.

The film is slated to hit theater screens in 2009.