This week we found out that Machete Kills, the sequel to 2010's exasperatingly over the top Machete, is tentatively set to begin production in April under the direction of Robert Rodriguez, who is partnering with producer Alexander Rodnyansky on the sure to be ridiculous enterprise. 

Danny Trejo is in talks to reprise the title role, and today there's further proof that Machete Kills is close to becoming an actual movie, thanks to some sales artwork that's made its way online.

Way back in July of last year, Robert Rodriguez made mention of a couple sequels during his panel at the San Diego Comic-Con.  The endlessly-discussed Sin City 2 came up, of course, but the man behind Troublemaker Studios also said that we'll soon be seeing a sequel to 2010's Machete, and it will be the second in a planned trilogy that culminates with Danny Trejo's one-man army venturing into space.  Now, it looks like Machete Kills is coming together, with an April production start tentatively planned.

Robert Rodriguez has been talking up a potential sequel to Sin City since very shortly after the first film debuted in 2005.  For the last half-decade, he and co-director Frank Miller will offer a hopeful update on Sin City 2 seemingly ever few months, and the would-be movie is almost always tantalizingly close to production, according to the independently-minded director and medium-redefining comic book writer/artist.  It should come as no surprise, then, that at his Comic-Con panel today, Rodriguez made some optimistic statements about Sin City 2.  What might be a bit more surprising, however, is that he also announced two Machete sequels, Machete Kills and Machete Kills Again.  There's more, though: Rodriguez is now behind the latest attempt at a new version of Heavy Metal.

If you could send this first trailer for Spy Kids: All the Time in the World back in time to 1996, moviegoers just out of From Dusk Till Dawn probably wouldn't believe that the upcoming franchise rejiggering was directed by Robert Rodriguez, the same guy behind El Mariachi and Desperado.  And not just because of the dueling novelties of 3D and Smell-O-Vision-style Aroma-Scope.  There's also the matters of Ricky Gervais inexplicably voicing a robot dog and Jeremy Piven playing a time-stealing villain with a terrible goatee.  All these things and more are on display in the first Spy Kids 4 trailer, along with Jessica Alba as a superspy stepmom.

Danny Trejo has always been one of the coolest guys making movies. Whether he is trying to make nice with Michael Myers in Rob Zombie’s Halloween or just simply kicking ass in Predators, he always steals the show. And that’s not even counting Machete.

From the faux-trailer in Grindhouse to a movie all his own, everybody knows Machete. And now, with the Blu-ray and DVD finally available [as of Tuesday, January 4], he will become an even bigger legend. The only person who could’ve brought this character to life is Mr. Trejo.

When Machete tells you he don’t text… he don’t text!

With the upcoming DVD/Blu-ray release of the awesome Robert Rodriguez flick, Machete (starring Danny Trejo as the titular hero), we have a little gift for you with this fun clip below.

I think the majority of men found serious disappointment when they learned that Jessica Alba’s nude shower scene in Machete was all computer magic. But, if that ruffled your feathers, new revelations about Alba and her role in the film may be even more disheartening. Apparently, Alba was to partake in some additional sex scenes for the film.

We of course never saw that, because it never happened. Jessica Alba recently spoke with Metro, and in the interview she discusses her character, and some of Robert Rodriguez’s expectations.

“I read the script for Machete but there was a lot of sex stuff for my character and I’m really conservative. I’d say to him [Rodriguez] ’you know the scenes where this is happening? I just feel really uncomfortable doing that.’”

It’s time to haul out the longest roll of tissue ever invented; Jessica Alba didn’t really get naked in that shower scene during Robert Rodriguez's Machete, that was all computer enhancement.

Yeah, I know, I wish I didn’t know this now myself… it was so much better believing in a technological lie.

In part two of ROGUE ON ROGUE, Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer and Michelle Rodriguez of Machete and Avatar discuss all things Rogue as moderated by ARTISTdirect.com editor, Rick Florino.

Want more? Check out the written interview - just click here  or want to watch part one again - click here!

Korn guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer and Michelle Rodriguez of Machete and Avatar discuss Metallica, classical music and "Apocalypse" now for "Rogue on Rogue" as moderated by ARTISTdirect.com editor, Rick Florino. They tread the same ground creatively and share many similar influences, and it's all captured in this video below.

Want more? Check out the written interview - just click here.