Henry Cavill cast as lead in Amazon’s live-action Voltron, directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber

Henry Cavill has been cast in the lead role for Amazon MGM’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Voltron, directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. Cavill, known for his roles in Superman and The Witcher, joins newcomer Daniel Quinn-Toye, who made an impression on the studio with his West End performance opposite Tom Holland.

The Voltron movie is based on the iconic Japanese anime series Beast King GoLion and Kikou Kantai Dairugger XV, which was edited and rebranded as Voltron: Defender of the Universe for Western audiences in the mid-1980s. The series centers on five young pilots commanding mechanical lions that merge to form the mega-robot Voltron. While specific plot details for the new adaptation remain under wraps, Thurber co-wrote the script with Ellen Shanman.

The film is produced by Todd Lieberman through Hidden Pictures, alongside World Events Productions’ Bob Koplar, Thurber, and Hobie Films' David Hoberman.

Cavill has been busy this year, starring in Matthew Vaughan’s Argyle and Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. He also made a cameo appearance in Deadpool & Wolverine and is set to star in Chad Stahelski’s Highlander reboot. Cavill is also executive producing a Warhammer 40,000 adaptation for Amazon MGM.

Cavill is represented by WME and 2PM Sharp, and the production for Voltron is scheduled to begin filming in Australia later this year.