Comic-Con Movies 2011: Robert Rodriguez

The first and perhaps biggest bit of news to come out of Thursday evening's Quick Draw Productions panel with Robert Rodriguez was a new Heavy Metal film, but that wasn't the only thing worth noting, especially for fans of Rodriguez's comic book/noir classic, Sin City.

"If it's going to happen, it's going to happen this year," Rodriguez said of the long-delayed Sin City 2, noting that the film would cover one original story and two new original stories from Sin City creator Frank Miller. 

Some of you might be wondering the difference between Quick Draw Productions and Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios. Quick Draw is its own production company, which means it can greenlight its own projects. The company will make Heavy Metal and would presumably make Sin City 2 as Rodriguez's new "action-oriented" company.

The director, who's releasing Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D on Aug. 19, is already thrilled about the opportunities that have been opened up since he started Quick Draw. The focus is back on movies, Rodriguez said, "It's a freedom I haven't had before." 

More sequel news was announced when Rodriguez said "Machete has and will kill again." Two more sequels are planned for the Danny Trejo-led grindhouse-style action film, Machete Kills and Machete Kills Again, though Rodriguez later noted the second sequel will take place in outer space with lightsaber-like machetes and may be titled "Machete Kills Again...in Space." 


The final announcement dealt with the late comic-book artist Frank Frazetta. Rodriguez plans to both open a museum to show off Frazetta's art and make a movie based off Frazetta's Fire and Ice, a 1983 animated feature. Rodriguez was joined on stage by Frazetta's son, Billy, and together, they announced the plans to open a museum of Frazetta's work in Austin, TX. The goal is to be in operation by next year's SXSW festival, and as a tease, Rodriguez brought ten authentic Frazetta works of art to show the crowd. 

As far as Fire and Ice goes, Rodriguez said the intension is to bring viewers into the world of Frazetta's paintings, make them feel like they are in his head, like Sin City did for Frank Miller. The film is currently in pre-production, so no footage could be shown, but Rodriguez did unveil some early concept art for the project. No word on the expected completion of Fire and Ice.

Thanks to FirstShowing.net for live blogging from Hall H.