Normally I would go all pessimistic on you and tell you that there’s no way anyone will ever get a “Voltron” movie up and running, not with the cost and complexity involved in making giant robot lions look real onscreen. Then again, that was before Michael Bay did not one, not two, but three “Transformers” movies.

The boys at Coming Attractions got the chance to visit World Event Productions, the home office of the “Voltron” movie, and came away with some news about the upcoming film. In short, it’s still in development, but there have been some major changes since last we heard.

What are the chances that we’ll actually see a live-action “Voltron” movie on the big screen anytime soon? I can’t see it actually happening. Mind you, I’m all for it, and I think it could really work, but I don’t know if the franchise has enough name-recognition among Joblo ala “Transformers” to justify the potentially huge cost of a big sci-fi movie about five giant robot lions that transforms into an even bigger, giant robot guy.

The last time we heard about any movement on the “Voltron” live-action movie, it was August 2008, when we heard from a movie site that the film might have landed a director. Well that hasn’t really been confirmed by the trades, and judging by the fact that we haven’t heard a peep from a “Voltron” movie since probably means that rumor was just that, a rumor that didn’t come to pass. So what’s the latest word from Hollywood? Movement, it would appear.

Max Makowski. What? Who? Who the hell is Max Makowski? He’s the guy who is going to be directing the “Voltron” live-action big-screen movie, that’s who. At least, according to the guys over at Latino Review, who have been right on this Voltron stuff all along, so I’m definitely not saying they might even be wrong here. Okay, so Max Makowski is going to direct the “Voltron” movie, which is already moving forward, with the studio planning to shoot it ala Zack Snyder’s “300″ — i.e. tons and tons of green screen work. Which is fine with me. I don’t think they could have possibly made this thing on practical effects, not with the sheer amount of effects they would need for all the giant robot lions and especially when they form the big robot guy.

Still holding your breath for a live-action Voltron movie? Well you’re going to have to keep waiting, because it doesn’t look like the movie is anywhere closer to becoming reality, what with news that New Regency has recently put the film, the full title of which is “Voltron: Defender of the Universe” into turnaround. Everyone involved still plans to get the movie made, but the budget isn’t there, and if anything, the budget may get slashed before a deal is agreed upon. That, and the Japanese right holders are being fidgety about letting a big Hollywood studio mess with their animal robots.