As one of the first major films to not only adapt a graphic novel, but to try and do so in the unique visual style of the original book, 2005's 'Sin City' stands alone as a major influence in comic book film history. The hyper-visualized style and intensive use of green screen technology was a leap forward in the field, and over the last seven years there have been constant whispers of a possible sequel. Well, whisper no more because an official press release has been issued by co-collaborators Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller stating that a sequel based upon the 1993 graphic novel 'A Dame to Kill For' will be headed into production this summer, right here in lovely Austin, TX. Here is the full release:

ROBERT RODRIGUEZ AND FRANK MILLER TO BEGIN PRODUCTION ON THEIR MUCH ANTICIPATED SEQUEL TO 2005‘S SIN CITY ENTITLED “FRANK MILLER’S SIN CITY: A DAME TO KILL FOR”

Robert Rodriguez’s Quick Draw Productions and Alexander Rodnyansky’s AR Films partner with Dimension Films on historic sequel

AUSTIN, TX (12 April 2012) — Filmmakers Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, along with producer Alexander Rodnyansky, have announced that production will commence on the highly anticipated sequel to 2005’s Sin City, entitled Sin City: A Dame To Kill For. The film will be produced by AR Films and Quick Draw Productions, financed through AR Films U.S and released domestically by Dimension Films.

“The first question I am always asked is “When will you make another Sin City? ,” said Rodriquez. “I have wanted to re-team with Frank Miller and return to the world he created since the day we wrapped the original, but have felt a duty to the fans to wait until we had something truly exceptional that would meet and exceed what have become epic expectations. A Dame To Kill For will certainly be worth the wait.”

Sin City creator, screenwriter and co-director Frank Miller said, “The first Sin City knocked out audiences who had never seen anything like it before. Robert Rodriguez and I are going to shake things up and deliver a ferocious film experience that is going to go even further than the first.“

The script and details of the film’s story have been kept tightly under wraps. Casting will begin next week, with many of the original cast expected to return. The film, a Quick Draw Production, will be produced by Rodriguez and producing partners Aaron Kaufman and Iliana Nikolic; and by Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergei Bespalov and Stephen L’Hereux. Miller, The Weinstein Company’s Harvey and Bob Weinstein and Miramax’s Adam Fields will act as executive producers. Sin City: A Dame to Kill For was developed by Frank Miller based upon his graphic novel, with a screenplay by Frank Miller and Academy Award winner William Monahan (The Departed). The film is expected to begin production this summer at Rodriguez’s Troublemaker Studios in Austin, Texas.

The second novel in the 'Sin City' series, 'A Dame to Kill For' stars the character Dwight McCarthy (originally played by Clive Owen, who is expected to reprise his role) as he looks for redemption after a series of events with a mysterious married woman named Ava, her insanely over-protective bodyguard Manute, and a cadre of capably violent street prostitutes. Many of the characters from the first movie have roles in the graphic novel, so it's not outside the realm of possibility to see some of the film's numerous stars in cameo appearances. At the very least, we can all cross our fingers that Jessica Alba has finally reached a low enough point in her career that we might actually get to see her play a stripper who actually takes off her clothes...