Robert Rodriguez filming Sin City 2 and Machete Kills This Year

After what feels like seven years of waiting…oh wait, it was actually seven years of waiting–Sin City 2 is finally headed into production. Robert Rodriguez announced at at the SXSW Interactive Festival that the much-anticipated sequel to his Frank Miller Noir adaptation will be “going into production” this summer.  As exciting as this is, I’ll take it with a grain of salt until we see anything concrete, because it’s been “in production” for quite some time now.  While it’s unknown who will return for the sequel, Rodriguez said the casting will be “of the same caliber and ecclecticism” as the first film’s.  Years ago it was teased at that the popular graphic novel Hell and Back would be the centerpiece story of Sin City 2.

The sequel to the 2010 Grindhouse-spinoff Machete, aptly named Machete Kills will also start shooting in April.  Danny Trejo will undoubtedly reprise his role as the titular character, though other casting details are unknown at this point.  We can only hope Michelle Rodriguez signs on for the sequel.

For the full story, and developments on Rodriguez’s animation company, Quickdraw Animation which is working on two films currently, check out The Hollywood Reporter’s Risky Business Blog.