The live-action Voltron movie starring former Superman actor Henry Cavill just suffered a major setback. After two decades of development Hell, it appears like the American-produced live-action Voltron movie is on the cusp of becoming a reality. This latest attempt at bringing the beloved franchise to life on the big screen was announced back in 2022 with Rawson Marshall Thurber in the director’s chair and actors such as Henry Cavill, Sterling K. Brown, and Rita Ora starring. Despite the genuine talent behind the project, though, fans may want to temper their expectations given recent news.
According to recent reports, Amazon is releasing their Voltron movie straight to streaming, forgoing a theatrical release entirely. The move is not entirely unprecedented, as 2024’s Road House remake was also sent straight to streaming. While no reason is given, and it may be premature to say whether this speaks to the film’s quality or not, it is still a major blow to fans who were hoping to see Voltron’s larger-than-life story on the big screen.
Voltron’s Movie May Be Exclusive To Streaming, But Don’t Be Too Quick To Judge Its Quality
Voltron is the Latest Big Budget Release To Be Relegated To Streaming Only
Though fans might view this as a sign that Amazon lacks confidence in the Voltron revival, it’s worth pointing out that the previous time this happened, with Road House, the result was far from a disaster. Jake Gyllenhaal’s latest currently has 60% on Rotten Tomatoes and did so well on streaming that the Road House remake is getting a sequel directed by Guy Ritchie.
In addition to Road House, the last half a decade has seen plenty of examples of films intended for the theater that end up releasing only on streaming services. Notable examples such as Pixar’s Soul and Turning Red were largely relegated to streaming due to the Pandemic.
Movies intended for theatrical releases are often sH๏τ and directed for that environment, including little details that even the best home theater systems might have trouble depicting
While a move straight to streaming doesn’t necessarily speak to the quality of the final product, it could certainly speak to a lack of confidence from the studio that produced it. Additionally, movies intended for theatrical releases are often sH๏τ and directed for that environment, including little details that even the best home theater systems might have trouble depicting. There is a reason many directors don’t want fans watching movies on their phones.
What Amazon Moving Voltron To Streaming Means For The Project
Prime Could Prove A Good Fit For Voltron
Though the move to Prime is almost certainly a disappointment to the fans and the crew behind the film, there is a chance that Prime will ultimately be a good home for the movie, allowing it to be seen by a wider audience looking for something to watch on streaming. The release on streaming may also mean the film is able to reach a younger audience who may not have the means to go out to theaters.
Honestly, the biggest test of whether Voltron will succeed on streaming or not will be its quality. Based on a 1980s series that redubbed the classic anime Beast King GoLion, Voltron is a beloved series with a legion of fans. The franchise saw a bit of a revival with Netflix’s Voltron: Legendary Defender, a modern reboot of the series made by some of the key figures involved in the production of Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Given the already built-in fanbase, the all-star cast, and the fact that there aren’t exactly a litany of other giant robot movies out at the moment, Voltron is well-positioned to be a success story. With Hollywood’s spotty track record of adapting anime into live-action though, fans have good reason to be cautious about approaching the new film. Unfortunately, only time will tell whether the upcoming Voltron film will live up to the franchise’s legendary pedigree or whether it will be just another failed attempt at rekindling 1980’s nostalgia.
Source: Cosmicbook
