Weinsteins Wave Their 'Machete'

The Weinstein Company is pushing Machete as one of its main priorities this year, according to Bloody Disgusting. If you've never seen Grindhouse, you probably have no idea what Machete is, but it was a phony trailer that preceded the first half of the double feature, Planet Terror. Danny Trejo, a longtime Robert Rodriguez favorite, stars as Machete, an ex-Federale who is betrayed by some former employers, and he starts an all-out war against them. And they don't call him Machete because his favorite weapon is a candygram... There is already about a half hour of Machete footage, shot for the Grindhouse trailer, and the plan is to take it back in front of the camera this year. Two questions: Will Rodriguez direct it since he has some high profile fish to fry, and will it get a theatrical release? I would vote maybe and no, primarily because The Weinsteins own Dimension, which last year announced it would make 18 direct-to-dvd movies in 2009, with an eye on even more in 2010. Because of the company's firm commitment to the home video racket...I mean market, this seems to fit the mold; upcoming DVD sequels of Halloween and Piranha 3-D are planned, as well. Still, I'd like to see Trejo get a shot, and Machete is a great role for him. So whatever form it takes, I'm game.