After years of speculation, possible false starts, casting rumours and constant questions for Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller, Sin City 2 - officially now known as Frank Miller’s Sin City: A Dame To Kill For - finally solidified last month with a for-real-this-time-no-take-backs announcement from its co-directors. With Cannes in full swing, The Weinstein Company has taken the chance to announce the movie’s planned US (and possibly worldwide) release date and confirm that Jessica Alba and Mickey Rourke will return.

Alba seemed a shoo-in, since she’s long been linked to the movie and will be working with Rodriguez again on Machete Kills. Not to mention that Nancy Callaghan and the hulking Marv are pivotal to the central tale.

Rourke seemed less likely, if only because he’s made public statements about the tough makeup process last time. But it sounds like they’ve found a way to make it work for him – more performance capture this time, perhaps? – and he’s locked in.

Other big names are expected to be announced shortly, and hopefully will include some more returning favourites.

With a script by Rodriguez and The Departed’s William Monahan, the Sin City sequel will start shooting later this summer at RR’s Troublemaker Studios in Texas, and will emerge into the wild on October 4 next year.