Better late than never, but I started wondering what’s going on with Henry Cavill’s Voltron movie, especially since absolutely nothing has been said about it for months.
While digging around online, I came across a YouTuber discussing a reported very early rough-cut test screening leak that revealed new details about the film.
I grew up with the original. I still have my original Lions and Voltron. I’ll say I see red flags, as Voltron sounds exactly like what Amazon is doing with Masters of the Universe: goofy.
Note: Possible spoilers follow.
Source “loved it”
Mr H Reviews claimed about two months ago that a test screening for Amazon’s live-action Voltron went over well, offering the first substantial insight into what the movie looks like. The YouTuber says his sources are solid.
The film has been quietly in development for some time, and earlier reports suggested Voltron was being positioned as a direct-to-streaming release on Amazon Prime Video, not a theatrical release. Producers later walked that back slightly, saying its release plans were still undecided.
However, Mr. H Reviews says his source confirms a streaming release and that it would be a shame to do so, and while it’s obviously not meant to be an Oscar contender, the source “loved it.”
A Sequel To The Original 1980s Cartoon
The leaked reaction claims Voltron is not a reboot, but a direct sequel to the classic 1980s cartoon, packed with callbacks, Easter eggs, and references to the original lore.
The story centers on a new intergalactic war between the peaceful Galaxy Alliance and the conquering alien race known as the Galra, who have freed their imprisoned ruler, Emperor Zarkon (played by Sterling K. Brown).
With war declared, the legendary defender Voltron is needed once again.
As in the cartoon, Voltron is formed by five robotic lions, piloted by new young pilots from different worlds.
The lions, dormant since Zarkon’s defeat and spread across the galaxy, awaken and summon a new generation of pilots from across the galaxy.
Earth-Born Hero And Pilot Training
The film’s main character is Mac, a young man from Earth who discovers one of the Voltron lions buried in a cave near his home.
He soon learns he has a personal connection to the machine — he’s the son of a former Voltron pilot (the main team from the original series – Keith, Lance, Hunk, Pidge, Sven – are human pilots from Earth).
“Overwhelmed by curiosity and a sense of adventure, Mac follows the lion’s beacon and is whisked across the galaxy to enlist in the war against Zarkon,” says the leak.
Much of the movie reportedly focuses on the training sequences and team dynamics, as the new pilots struggle to work together and successfully form Voltron.
The tone is described as intentionally cheesy and fun, drawing comparisons to Power Rangers mixed with Top Gun: Maverick — but with giant robots.
“It’s all very silly stuff,” said the source who grew up with the cartoon but found it “great,” adding: “It’s intended to be a family film” and “injects quite a bit of humor.”
Henry Cavill’s Role And Sword Fight Scene
Henry Cavill reportedly plays a small, supporting but important role as the son of Princess Allura and is king of the planet Altean (in the original series, his grandfather would be King Alfor, Allura’s father).
Henry Cavill is said to be a key figure within the Galaxy Alliance, as Altean is the Voltron Force’s base of operations.
While Henry isn’t the main character, Cavill gets standout moments, including a sword fight scene that left the source impressed.
The reaction even notes that Cavill’s performance made the source more excited to see him headline the upcoming Highlander reboot.
Villains Steal The Show
The villains are said to be one of the strongest elements of the film and are the source’s favorite part of the film.
Sterling K. Brown’s Emperor Zarkon is described as heavily prosthetic-based and intimidating.
As I suspected, Rita Ora is indeed playing Haggar the Dark Witch, and appears nearly unrecognizable, buried under creature makeup and hissing much of her dialogue.
“She seems to be having fun alongside Sterling K. Brown as Emperor Zarkon,” says the source.
The Galra forces themselves were compared to “the orcs from Lord of the Rings, but in space.”
Rough Effects, Big Potential
Because this was a rough-cut test screening, the visual effects were unfinished.
Still, fully rendered shots of Voltron reportedly looked faithful to the original design.
The source left the screening entertained and satisfied – “it’s not going to win any awards” – stressing again that the movie feels far bigger than a straight-to-streaming release.
The source “couldn’t imagine seeing Voltron in full glory on anything other than a big screen.”
Amazon Streaming Or Theaters?
If the leak is accurate, Voltron could end up joining Amazon’s growing slate of nostalgia-driven IP revivals.
But according to this screening reaction, dumping it on streaming may undersell what could be a crowd-pleasing sci-fi spectacle, especially for fans who grew up with the original series.
Still, red flags are present as it sounds like another IP made goofy for the modern audience.
For now, Amazon has not officially commented on the film’s release plans.
It’s possible an announcement and Voltron trailer might be released this summer at the San Diego Comic-Con, for possibly a 2027 release date.
Voltron Director And Cast Details
Rawson Marshall Thurber is the director.
Making up the rest of the Voltron cast, according to IMDb, includes Nathan Jones, John Kim, Laura Gordon, Tim Griffin, Samson Kayo, Daniel Quinn Toye, Keanu Karim, Matthew Scully, Tharanya Tharan, Roberto Zenca, Kevin Spink, and Giovanni Adams.
(note: featured image is fan art)
