Rodriguez, Miller, and producer Alexander Rodyansky have officially announced that funding is in place and production will take place at Rodriguez's Troublemaker Studios this summer.  The press release also reveals that much of the cast will be back for Sin City: A Dame to Kill For.  If that title sounds familiar, it's because that's the second of Miller's comics set in Basin City, which acts as a prequel to The Big Fat Kill, setting up the character of Dwight, played by Clive Owen.

We've known for a while that the story would be included in the sequel, along with another established noir tale, and The Long Bad Night, an original story drummed up by Miller specifically for the film, possibly involving Nancy Callahan, Jessica Alba's character in That Yellow Bastard.  Last August, Oscar-winning The Departed and Kingdom of Heaven writer William Monahan was brought aboard to polish the screenplay.

Seems Monahan's contribution was just what the Sin City sequel needed.  Read all about it in the official announcement below:

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.
 
Alexander Rodnyansky said, “We are delighted to continue our relationship with Robert Rodriguez and Quick Draw Productions. It is a rare opportunity to produce and finance a film with the high profile and enormous fan base of the Sin City franchise. AR FIlms will be managing worldwide sales of Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, as well as Robert’s Machete Kills at the Cannes Film Festival in May.”
 
The original Sin City was brought to the screen by Rodriguez and Miller and released by Dimension in 2005, and proved to be a landmark step forward in filmmaking, breaking ground with immersive green screen to create its iconic stylish look. The first film, released on April 1, 2005, grossed over $160 million (US) worldwide and is a consistently strong home video and television performer.
 
“Audiences have been clamoring for Sin City 2 with Robert and Frank for a long time and trust me, it will be worth the wait,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman of The Weinstein Company.  “This will be my 11th collaboration with Robert in 16 years and he’s become a great friend. I look forward to continuing our long lasting relationship and partnering on more projects in the future.”
 
The deal was negotiated by Aaron Kaufman, Craig Emanuel of Loeb & Loeb and Robert Newman of WME on behalf of Rodriguez; David Glasser and Andrew Kramer on behalf of Dimension Films; Schuyler Moore of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and Jere Hausfater on behalf of AR Films; Kenneth Keller and Garth Rosengren of Krieg, Keller, Sloan, Reilley & Roman and John LaViolette of Bloom Hergott Diemer Rosenthal LaViolette Feldman Schenkman & Goodman on behalf of Stephen L’Heureux and Solopsist Films; and Mark Lichtman and Neil Meyer and Allison Binder of Stone, Meyer, Genow, Smelkinson & Binder on behalf of Miller.

At San Diego Comic-Con last July, Rodriguez said of the sequel, "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen this year."  Seems he may have been calling his shot, but it's been so long that it'd be understandable if you were hesitant to believe that Sin City: A Dame to Kill For is in production until you see photographic evidence.