Seemingly robo-obsessed writer Daniel H Wilson must be feeling like all his robot birthdays and robot Christmases have come at once this week, since both of his techno-flavoured books to date have now moved ahead with their cinematic incarnations. Steven Spielberg finally decided on Robopocalypse just before the weekend and now Jack Black is taking an interest in Wilson’s earlier tome, comedy guide How to Survive a Robot Uprising.

The funny look at ways to stop the metallic bastards from grinding you beneath their merciless mechanical feet has been in development since at least 2006, when Mike Myers became attached to the film version which Paramount had bought the rights to make. Back then, Reno 911/Night at the Museum franchise writers Thomas Lennon and Ben Garant were busy working on the script, and word was that Myers would have some extra input in shaping his role of a technical administrator who must both warn the public of the robo-rampage and find ways to curtail it.

Since them, very little has happened, with the film seemingly stuck in limbo. Now, however io9’s sources tell them that Black and Hot Tub Time Machine director Steve Pink have grabbed up the rights and are doing some more work on the script with an eye to Black starring and Pink directing. Maybe they can find someone with the surname Orange to produce and make the crew into an unofficial Reservoir Dogs homage.

Question is, will this and Robopocalypse go head to beard with Spielberg at the box office? Doubt it; no one comes off well in that battle. Maybe Black and Pink will try to get their techno-comedy in cinemas first. After all, Spielberg is planning to make his for release in 2013. Plenty of time…