It’s been a long road back to being functional after the Nerdist team’s trek to SXSW. Every member of the away team contracted the plague, but we’re survivors and we’re here. While at the Austin-based festival, Nerdist editor in chief Brian Walton sat down for a lengthy conversation with Austin’s ambassador of the arts, Robert Rodriguez.

For those who have had a moratorium on all things awesome, Rodriguez has had a hand in some of the best movies of the past 2 decades. The films he’s directed — El Mariachi, Desperado, Sin City, Machete, Planet Terror, etc. — have certainly left an indelible mark on pop culture and made Rodriguez a household name.

Brian’s conversation with the maverick filmmaker focused on Robert’s latest creative endeavors at El Rey Network, his love of Austin and what comes next. Oh, and the what comes next is where Rodriguez confirmed he will be directing the live-action adaptation of Frank Frazetta’s Fire and Ice as his next project.

Fire and Ice was Ralph Bakshi’s attempt to bring Frank Frazetta’s fantasy worlds to life as an animated feature film. While the film is hailed for being ahead of its time, it is widely considered to be more of a grindhouse triumph for Bakshi than for bringing the art and storytelling of Frazetta to the world. The passion with which Robert speaks of Frazetta’s work, not to mention the fact he set up an amazing Frazetta gallery at SXSW, is definitely an indicator that the film will hold true to the artist’s vision.

Here’s a trailer for the original film:

Get ready for a new season of From Dusk ‘Til Dawn coming later this year, and check your local listings to watch the El Rey Network. What kind of game would you like to see Robert create? Sign up for an account on Nerdist and comment below!