Even when battling for national security and global threats, Sony still finds time to set up new projects. They just signed on director Robert Rodriguez to helm a live-action remake of Fire and Ice, based on Ralph Bakshi's innovative 1983 animated film.
According to Deadline, this blockbuster serves as Rodriguez and Columbia Pictures reuniting, as the studio acquired the filmmaker's breakout indie hit El Mariachi. The intention is for this new movie to kickstart a new fantasy adventure franchise for the recently-troubled studio, as well as be Rodriguez's homage to artist Frank Frazetta, who created the character designs with Bakshi for the original '80s picture.
Rodriguez has developed this project since he optioned Fire and Ice back in 2010. At the time, he said he was working with Bakshi in developing the new version of this tale. Whether or not this is still the case is not known, but he did say in 2012 he would work on the film after he was done with his Machete and Sin City sequels. While he was planning to make more installments of both before their financial blowouts, he's keeping his promise at least.
In addition to Sony, Bold Films, the studio behind this year's acclaimed Whiplash and Nightcrawler, have funded developments of Rodriguez's drafts and will firmly be involved with this re-imagining.
Both Rodriguez and Sony are having some trouble in their career paths of late, with the filmmaker falling victim with flop after flop like Machete Kills and this year's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and Sony, of course, the victim of North Korea's uncompromising threats and attacks for their film The Interview. Perhaps this project, if anything, can serve as the two troubled entertainment creators teaming up to make something to redefine their standings.
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