Hollywood has been trying to make a Voltron movie work for years, and it may finally happen. Production recently wrapped on Amazon’s live-action adaptation of the classic ’80s show. Some big stars are attached to the film, including Henry Cavill, Sterling K. Brown, and even Rita Ora. Voltron acquired the director behind films like Red Notice and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story to helm the fresh take on the beloved animated series. While fans wait for a release date and plot details, here’s what’s known about the movie and how that might impact the final film.

The Cast Has Already Assembled

Not much is known about the live-action Voltron movie, but there is an official cast list. The main cast includes:

Henry Cavill
Sterling K. Brown
Rita Ora
Tim Griffin
John Harlan Kim
Alba Baptista
Laura Gordon
Nathan Jones
Samson Kayo
Daniel Quinn Toye

We aren’t sure yet who everyone is playing, but five of the actors will play the pilots who control Voltron. Henry Cavill, Sterling K. Brown, and Rita Ora make the most sense for those roles, considering they’re the biggest names in the movie. Audiences will likely have to wait for a trailer to see who plays who.

The good news is that the cast list has little chance of changing. The film’s producer, Bob Koplar, confirmed on Instagram that the “live-action Voltron film has officially wrapped production.” Filming on the project ended back in April, so the film’s post-production seems to have had quite a fast turnaround. This could mean that the film will be released by the end of the year, but with no release plans announced yet, fans might have to wait longer than expected. The film is distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, and while Voltron was originally intended for theaters, rumors suggest that the distributor might move the film straight to Amazon Prime Video.

Voltron was helmed by director Rawson Marshall Thurber, whose body of work should be familiar to most audiences. He’s directed comedies such as Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story and We’re the Millers. However, his more recent projects, such as Red Notice, have brought him into the world of action films. His blend of humor and action makes him a welcome choice to lead the project.

New Pilots May Fight Old Foes

Considering that so little is known about Voltron, it shouldn’t be surprising that the plot is being kept secret. In a video message, Rawson Marshall Thurber told audiences, “In this film, we’re going to be introducing an entirely new generation of pilots.” While the main characters might be different, the director added that he still wants to stay true to the heart of the original series. Also, his quote didn’t rule out the possibility of characters from the original show appearing to assist and guide these new pilots.

The film will likely focus on Lion Voltron, which was the original mech, composed of five robotic lions. Later seasons introduced other Voltron models, which could operate in the air, the sea, or on land. It’s possible that other mech models could appear in the film, but it wouldn’t make sense to do a Voltron movie without Lion Voltron at least. Rawson Marshall Thurber’s commitment to the original Voltron show also provides insight into a few plot details. The antagonists will likely be the main antagonists of the original series, Prince Lotor and King Zarkon, who terrorize the Earth with robotic creations. The characters feel like creations of the alien-obsessed ’80s, but hopefully they’re updated for the modern age.

Imagine a New ‘Pacific Rim’ or ‘Speed Racer’

The closest example to what a live-action Voltron movie would look like is Pacific Rim. That film has humans piloting giant robots to defend the Earth from monsters. The main difference between the concepts behind Pacific Rim and Voltron is that Voltron focuses specifically on robots that come together to create a bigger robot. The Voltron movie will also likely feature more space battles and robot-on-robot action. However, expect Voltron to still seem Pacific Rim-inspired.

The background of Voltron also bears a resemblance to other shows that have become live-action films, including Speed Racer. Like Voltron, Speed Racer was originally a Japanese anime, which was purchased and redubbed to be shown in America. The series was then adapted into a live-action film in 2008. While Speed Racer wasn’t well-received when it first came out, it’s gained a cult following for its creative choices in adapting the series and its visually stunning style. The fact that viewers can resonate with a film like Speed Racer now shows great promise for Voltron to succeed.

With the target audience of the original show having grown up, there’s also the chance that the film goes darker than its source material. Transformers, another live-action adaptation focused on giant mechs, was much darker than the ’80s Transformers cartoons. The first Transformers film spawned multiple sequels, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Voltron film takes a similar direction. However, with Rawson Marshall Thurber’s directing background, it seems more likely that Voltron will take a lighthearted tone, with humor and visuals that recall the original series. Let’s just hope it’s not like the gritty, mech-filled adaptation of Power Rangers in 2017.