Even though Robert Rodriguez has been promising that he will in fact be making a second Sin City movie sooner than later (since last summer, at least), it wasn't until Dimension Films officially confirmed the project - fully titled Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For - that most fans accepted the news as fact.

Dimension Films has unveiled another press release - this time, revealing that A Dame to Kill For will hit theaters in the U.S. on October 4th, 2013. In addition, the studio has confirmed the return of important players like Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke, while also teasing the involvement of other "huge names" in pivotal roles.

A Dame to Kill For is expected to combine elements of the original Sin City graphic novel (of the same name) with new original story material cooked up by Miller - who was assisted by William Monahan, the Oscar-winning screenwriter whose resume includes The Departed, Body of Lies and London Boulevard.

The non-linear narrative structure of the Sin City books and movies allows for Rourke to reprise his acclaimed turn as scarred brute Marv (without any continuity issues). Rodriguez also previously indicated that Rosario Dawson is onboard to return as Gail in A Dame to Kill For. Meanwhile, Alba is expected to portray two versions of Nancy Callahan: one before and after the events of "That Yellow Bastard" (the third section of the first Sin City movie).

However, despite the importance of Dwight in the "Dame to Kill For" storyline, Clive Owen is unlikely to return in that role - since, in Miller's source material, the character underwent plastic surgery between the events of "Dame to Kill For" and Miller's "The Big Fat Kill" book (which served as the second main section of the first Sin City movie).

sin city 2 sequel mickey rourke

Dimension Films has also announced that Rodriguez and Miller will be "bringing their unique visual style to life in 3D" with A Dame to Kill For. Whether that means Rodriguez is going to shoot Sin City 2 using 3D cameras (like he did with Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over) or convert the film during post-production (like Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D) - that remains unclear.

For what it's worth: Sin City 2 (like its predecessor) will be utilizing lots of digital imagery, in order to bring the unfriendly streets of Basin City to life; thus, post-converting the movie to 3D would be a relatively simple task. That's all assuming Rodriguez goes for more of an immersive effect - and doesn't use it as a gimmick. (Say, splashing the camera with blood during fight scenes.)

Overall, A Dame to Kill For seems to be coming together nicely - later than many would've liked, for sure, but hopefully the end result will justify the eight-year break between movies. [Insert obligatory remark about getting to see Dawson and Alba in 3D.]

As mentioned before, Frank Miller's Sin City: A Dame to Kill For arrives in theaters around the U.S. on October 4th, 2013.

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Source: Dimension Films