Nine years will have passed between the theatrical release of Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller's original Sin City movie (based on the latter's neo-Noir graphic novels) and the upcoming sequel, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. The comic book film landscape has very much changed and evolved since the mid-aughts - a time when director Tim Story's Fantastic Four harkened back to the comic book genre's past, while Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins was an harbinger for its future.

Point being, it remains to be seen if A Dame to Kill For will make a strong impression on moviegoers like its predecessor did - the latter being a creative landmark for the comic genre, in terms of its heightened style, carefully-woven narrative anthology form, and a cast that includes both A-listers (see: Bruce Willis) and lauded character actors in leading roles (Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen). Sin City 2 will have the same elements, as well as 3D FX and visuals that Rodriguez has promised will adhere more closely to the drawing style of Miller's source material - to a degree that, according to the filmmaker, "[Is] going to shock and surprise people."

Sin City Dame to Kill for Comic Book
Artwork from the 'A Dame to Kill For' Comic Book

Rodriguez and Miller are seemingly confident that they have a hit on their hands, as the duo has started to knock out ideas for Sin City 3, according to Rodriguez. The filmmaker broached that topic during a recent interview on SiriusXM's "Ron and Fez Show" (via The Interro Bang and Collider), where he also talked about his upcoming From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series (based on Rodriguez' 1996 vampire horror/thriller):

“Yeah—the second Sin City– I was just here with Frank Miller last night and we were watching it last night. [We] finished the cut, effects are being done, it will come out in August.

"He [Miller] watched Part 2—he watched it last night with me and then at the end he said, he didn’t have any comments, he was very happy with it. And he said, now about part three…. Started telling me how he’s going to do part three. So he’s already there on part three.”

One possible - and obvious - scenario for Sin City 3 would be for Miller to adapt his "Hell and Back" comic book storyline, which follows the ex-war hero Wallace on his own crazy trip (in multiple meanings of the term) through the hellhole that is Basin City. A decent number of Sin City comic book fans seem to regard the "Hell and Back" issues as one of Miller's best - and nastiest - stories from his Noir-inspired series; indeed, a few years ago there were widespread rumors that the eventual movie adaptation would feature Johnny Depp in the lead.

However, the sad truth of the matter is that general consumer confidence in Rodriguez and Miller alike has depleted a lot over the past decade. Rodriguez' last three directorial efforts (Shorts, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World in 4D and Machete Kills) were all generally considered to be rather slapdash in their construction - and not in an endearing way like Rodrgieuz' early indie ventures, either. Similarly, early footage from the From Dusk Till Dawn series has made the show look equally cheap in design.

Miller's recent writing - be it for the comic book medium or movies (cough, The Spirit) - has likewise prompted far more jeers than cheers, which is another reason why many geeks (us included) have lowered our expectations for A Dame to Kill For as well as any future Sin City cinematic installments from Rodriguez/Miller. Still, even if Sin City 2 isn't up to par, it'll be the box office that truly determine the future of the franchise - including, that TV spinoff that the Weinsteins have been giving consideration to.

How about it, readers - are you already interested in Sin City 3? Or are you waiting to see how Sin City: A Dame to Kill For turns out first?

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Sin City: A Dame to Kill For opens in U.S. theaters on August 22nd, 2014.

SOurce: The Interro Bang [via Collider]