Transformers has officially unleashed a hurricane of GIANT FREAKIN ROBOT movies. Expect more news than ever about Hollywood rushing as many robo destruction flicks into production as possible. I’m sure somewhere there’s some executive even now wondering if there’s a way they can bring back the Power Rangers. But for now, the first project riding Bumblebee’s coat tails will be Voltron: Defender of the Universe!

Variety says a movie based on the much loved 80s Japanese animated cartoon series and rather awesome toy line is close to a production deal with 20th Century Fox. The cartoon was cool, and as a kid I desperately coveted the toys… which my parents could never afford. Speaking of Power Rangers, Voltron is basically where they got the idea from. The cartoon was about heroes who piloted robot lions which could be combined together to form a giant, sword wielding, giant fighting robot.

For the movie, word is that it’ll be a post-apocalyptic film set in the rubble of New York City and Mexico. After an alien attack five survivors band together and pilot the five Voltron lions in a battle to save Earth from nasty, creepy creatures from outer space. Done right, it could end up being something like The Last Starfighter, but with GIANT FREAKIN ROBOTS. I can see that being kind of cool. The script is being written by Justin Marks, who also wrote the Masters of the Universe script which has never quite made it into production. Apparently Justin knows a thing or two about 80s cartoons. If there’s ever a My Little Pony movie, he’s your man.