Does a Robotech movie have some boxoffice potantial Global

[Kaleb]

Logan Lerman for Peter Parker Rick Hunter

 

[Pink Ranger]

I love this, but if you end with Roy Fokker's death in the second film you have a lot of territory to cover in the last movie. Roy's death was at the mid point of the Macross saga. But I do love the rest.

Hopefully then, by movie 2 this hypothetical movie franchise will be so amazingly popular it will merit a 2-part 3rd movie like Harry Potter, Twilight and Avengers.

Now if you'll excuse me, this hypothetical mega-producer tycoon has to go back to his mansion to tend to his kinky group marriage with Rose Byrne, Henry Cavill and Martha Stewart.

 

[writer0327]

Robotech/Macross could be the next monster blockbuster franchise if done correctly. It pretty much has all the elements that international audiences gravitate to nowadays: epic story, captivating romance, kinetic action, and the MUSIC. That last part is the crucial one IMO.

I'd agree. The music might be the most important thing about it. Lynn Minmay casting is crucial as well. But they only need three classics songs, To be in Love, My Time to be a Star, and We Will Win, and I'm happy.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Considering how popular singing contests are on TV, I would argue the character and story function of Lin Minmay makes even more sense for today's audiences than it did back in the 1980s.

 

[Panthro]

Also I like Robotech and all, but Robotech's heyday was in the 1980s. The fanbase is niche at best and very segmented these days. Transformers at least had numerous revivals and was still very popular ahead of the movies gettin gmade.

With all due respect to the Transformer revivals that pre-date the Bay movies (Beast Wars FTW!), any irrelevant franchise can make a comeback with either the right people at the helm, good marketing or in some cases just getting by on pure nostalgia and/or dumb luck.

Case in point for succeeding based just on nostalgia with a little dumb luck thrown in for good measure: the Star Wars prequels and Indiana Jones & The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Outside of a sprawling expanded universe series of books and comic books Star Wars had not really been relevant for around 15 years or so when the prequel trilogy touched down and those films made millions despite the fact that they were poorly written and poorly acted. Indiana Jones had been completely irrelevant for almost 20 years barring the less than memorable Young Indy TV series and again the 4th film made millions despite the fact that it was horribly written and horribly acted.

Michael Bay's Transformers films are one of the ultimate examples of succeeding just on dumb luck with a little nostalgia thrown in for good measure.

If a Robotech film does get off the ground I certainly hope it's handled better than the above examples, though given the contempt shown to beloved 80s properties where they powers that be seem to think that the core appeal is the cheesiness and silliness as opposed to the scope and imagination (and Robotech, for all its tough depictions of the horrors of war and dysfunctional masochistic relationships, was certainly not immune to some occasional cheese or silliness), I'll try not to get my hopes up. Sometimes I'm grateful that shows like Silverhawks (best remembered for being "that show that wasn't Thundercats"), The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers, Exo-Squad and Gargoyles (okay, the last two are 90s products) are apparently too obscure to show up on Hollywood's radar, after the less than satisfying treatments of Transformers and Ninja Turtles.

 

[writer0327]

Robotech needs to be made by a fan. The LOTR movies were done correctly because Peter Jackson is only a fantastic film maker, but he is also a fan of the novel. Robotech likewise needs a fan at the helm of this project, who will carefully and lovingly treat the material with respect and not butcher it.

 

[wz21]

I think it's kept alive for the potential that it can be a huge money maker, another franchise, and for the chance that a big name gets attached to it to get the financing going. Like Pink Ranger said, there are elements in Robotech which have been mined successfully in recent (and not-so recent) movies: Young adult-style love triangle, giant transforming robots, fighter jets and their hot-shot pilots, badass character's heroic sacrifice.

But as TheVileOne also said, the cost to making this movie is massive, prohibitively so.

I think another good reason to start this project is its popular outside America
especially in Asia.

 

[wz21]

Considering how popular singing contests are on TV, I would argue the character and story function of Lin Minmay makes even more sense for today's audiences than it did back in the 1980s.

That's really ture ,especially in Asia

 

[Octoberist]

I'll be honest, I think the Robotech series is in a weird flux. It was relevant but now it's just obscure. There's two reasons for that:

1. Rights. Since Harmony Gold owns the rights to Robotech in the US and how they merged three anime shows together (including Macross), I think it helped out anime in the 80's but also, became an outdated model to use.

2. No ongoing series. as far as I know, there's nothing going on with the series since the 90's. Esp after some failed attempts by Harmony Gold to do their own take (I guess it would be American instead of Japanese animation?). Meanwhile Gundam and even Neon Genesis Evo have been able to keep afloat with new installments (even if Evangeleon got as series of remakes).

3. BUt I think Robotech might be the cheapest IP to buy, vs. Gundam and Evangeleon, so that's why they're always in development deals with the studios. And since they're just dealing with Harmony Gold, they have to deal with the original Japanese creators/companies. Makes it slightly easier.

 

[TheVileOne]

The last new Robotech thing was the Shadow Chronicles animated movie. There was also a tie-in DC miniseries. Since that, I think they re-released an older anime movie for Mospeada as a Robotech title with some new dialogue, but that's it.

Shadow Chronicles came out in like 2008. They announced a sequel that never got made. Robotech movie never got off the ground.

I just think the money isn't there at Harmony Gold to do more. Like some fan merchandise here and there but that's it.

My guess is that they hoped a live-action movie would revamp and energize the franchise and give them lets of new ancillary tie-in things. But the movie never happened.

 

[writer0327]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/334609-sony-pictures-announces-robotech-franchise-plans

It looks like its almost a certain thing that this is going to be green lit.

My fears right now is surrounding the screenplay. You can't do the Macross saga in one film and hope to do it any justice and it sounds like that might be where they are headed.

Director wise, I know they had mentioned they would be targeting Muschietti, but nothing in this last article. This worries me because it seems that they are looking for some atmospheric rendition of Robotech, which can be great if done correctly. But most importantly, they need a director that has a love for the material, and I'm not sure where they'll find one.

 

[Panthro]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/334609-sony-pictures-announces-robotech-franchise-plans

It looks like its almost a certain thing that this is going to be green lit.

My fears right now is surrounding the screenplay. You can't do the Macross saga in one film and hope to do it any justice and it sounds like that might be where they are headed.

Director wise, I know they had mentioned they would be targeting Muschietti, but nothing in this last article. This worries me because it seems that they are looking for some atmospheric rendition of Robotech, which can be great if done correctly. But most importantly, they need a director that has a love for the material, and I'm not sure where they'll find one.

Yeah, I don't want them to settle for a Michael Bay type. I'd hate to see Robotech turn out like Transformers, box office be damned.

 

[writer0327]

Yeah, I don't want them to settle for a Michael Bay type. I'd hate to see Robotech turn out like Transformers, box office be damned.

If they are looking for a franchise, the worst thing they could do is just go "Ooo, look, giant robots that were popular once, let's make that!" This isn't Transformers

The key here is to do more than just touch upon the complexity of this storyline. They really have to go deep into the various themes that Robotech explored. It's more than just an alien invasion film and ace pilots doing heroic stuff.

*The misogyny of Rick and Roy. I hope they don't overlook or write this out of the story. In fact it could make for a great character arc as Rick learns how to deal with women in authority, perhaps on the heels of Roy's death.
*Inter-species romance, which can comment on differences in culture (They will need to beef this up a bit however. The actual Max-Miriya romance was a joke)
*The affect pop culture (Minmei) has on society, both the good and the bad.
*Insight into human behavior, expressly as humans are compared to the warlike Zentraedi, and how similar they all really are.

If all they do is focus on the love triangle, the destruction of the Earth, and cool explosions and special effects, they will ruin this. This should easily be a 7 film franchise if they don't screw it up.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Uh... Seven films is a bit much. That said, they do have to dig deep to make this compelling, but there needs to be an account of modern tastes ect. So, I don't think misogyny is on the list of things to cover as most wouldn't expect such deep seated biases to be a factor in a film that takes place in the future. That's a relic of the time and culture of the original series that I don't think makes sense in a film produced today. As for the "J-Pop" is the key to victory in battle thing... No. I just don't see that working at all. Hardcore fans can crucify me all that they want... That particular plot point would be a death sentence box office wise.

 

[writer0327]

3 films for Macross
2 films for the Robotech Masters
2 films for the Invid.

I totally disagree with trying to fit each of the three separate series into one film each. That wouldn't do any of these films any justice at all.

Let's just say I think there is an opportunity here when it comes to Rick and Roy. The treatment of women in the military and in society by their superiors (and their inferiors) is still valid and topical. If you are trying to make a film that explores serious issues, here's a ready made topic that Robotech certainly dealt with. Of course, you don't have to come in with a sledgehammer and beat people over the head with it. You don't have to make it the whole point of the film. Touching upon it during key moments as Rick learns to grow up and deal with a female superior officer would be refreshing and offers more to his character arc, unless the idea here is just to completely re-write everything about the original characters and the series, in which case, I don't have any opinion on that.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

I think expecting to get into anything beyond Macross is pretty pie in the sky naive. At best, a Macross based trilogy is what might be what they are planning, especially since the other series never made a splash in the pop culture the way Robotech Macross did. Hell, my Grandmother watched Macross with me, as the soap opera elements appealed to her. NO ONE'S grandmothr watched the convoluted and uninteresting mess that came after. Before we start on setting our hearts on a seven picture epic that only appeals to the SUPER hardcore otaku, lets see if a single Macross film can be made with the wider audience in mind. Yeesh....

 

[Black Narcissus]

So, is this the series about the guy with the weird scarf and his robot?

 

[writer0327]

Well, from all the articles that came out recently, the producers are talking "franchise" and not just a single Macross film. It's not just silly ol' naive pie in the sky fans like me.

Now certainly they will need do an amazing job with the Macross Saga first if they have any hope of getting to the Robotech Masters and the Invid. Their franchise could fall flat on its face with the first film, ala the Last Airbender. This means Robotech must be planned out meticulously. Its vital to do something more than a typical special effects bonanza and I'm still not convinced the producers aren't thinking Robotech is Transformers vs giant aliens.

If they do it correctly, thinking on a Lord of the Rings scale, meaning expanding the Macross Saga into three films and exploring the characters in depth, then they will approach this series with some respect and actually make an anime adaptation worthy of the original material.

 

[KRYPTON INC.]

Well, from all the articles that came out recently, the producers are talking "franchise" and not just a single Macross film. It's not just silly ol' naive pie in the sky fans like me.

Now certainly they will need do an amazing job with the Macross Saga first if they have any hope of getting to the Robotech Masters and the Invid. Their franchise could fall flat on its face with the first film, ala the Last Airbender. This means Robotech must be planned out meticulously. Its vital to do something more than a typical special effects bonanza and I'm still not convinced the producers aren't thinking Robotech is Transformers vs giant aliens.

If they do it correctly, thinking on a Lord of the Rings scale, meaning expanding the Macross Saga into three films and exploring the characters in depth, then they will approach this series with some respect and actually make an anime adaptation worthy of the original material.

Do you really think that by franchise they meant getting into INVID? No... They at best hope for a trilogy based on Macross, because in the U.S. and I think most of the rest of the world, no one cared about what came after, and for good reason. Those other unrelated shows never had an impact in the U.S. except for the hard core. I doubt they are looking to make anything related to that. Macross as a trilogy, as the basis of the films makes sense. Anything else is too sweaty nerdy to seriously consider.

 

[TheVileOne]

http://www.superherohype.com/news/334609-sony-pictures-announces-robotech-franchise-plans

It looks like its almost a certain thing that this is going to be green lit.

My fears right now is surrounding the screenplay. You can't do the Macross saga in one film and hope to do it any justice and it sounds like that might be where they are headed.

Director wise, I know they had mentioned they would be targeting Muschietti, but nothing in this last article. This worries me because it seems that they are looking for some atmospheric rendition of Robotech, which can be great if done correctly. But most importantly, they need a director that has a love for the material, and I'm not sure where they'll find one.

Far from certain. Only has a new creative team and a writer. No director. No budget. No green light.

Sony Pictures got Masters of the Universe after it left Warner Bros. That happened three years ago. Still no movie.

 

[marcvader]

Please do this right Hollywood.

 

[wz21]

Sony seems not suiting for this kind of movie

 

[Poetic Chaos]

If the heroine sings a power ballad during the final battle, I'm in.

 

[wz21]

Sony seems pay more attention to this movie now

 

[Loki882]

I hear that they're looking at James Wan to direct. That'd be an interesting choice.