RoboCop Reboot: The action hero returns in new Prime Video series
It's also been confirmed who the creators are
At last, we have confirmation: There will be a reboot of "RoboCop"! Prime Video has officially picked up a series adaptation, as reported by Variety.
The project has been in development for several years. And now it's official: The new series will initially consist of eight episodes. Whether additional episodes or even more seasons will be produced in the future remains to be seen. Either way, fans have reason to celebrate: Nothing seems to stand in the way of a "RoboCop" reboot. Initial details about the story are already available. As in Paul Verhoeven's original 1987 film, the story once again centers on a law enforcement officer who is half-human, half-machine. An official description of the story reads:
"A giant tech conglomerate convinces the city to place a powerful robot on its police force – a robot implanted with the consciousness of a beloved, fallen officer."
The creators behind the new RoboCop series
It is currently unknown whether and to what extent the series will break new ground as the plot unfolds: no further official details about the story have been announced yet. However, the creators behind the "RoboCop" series reboot have been confirmed. Peter Ocko serves as writer, executive producer, and showrunner. He has previously worked on various series, including "Pushing Daisies" and "The Leftovers." James Wan, a filmmaker who has already directed several box-office hits, is also involved: Among other projects, he directed the horror films "Saw" and "Insidious," as well as the superhero blockbuster "Aquaman." For the "RoboCop" series, he serves as an executive producer alongside Ocko, Michael Clear, and Rob Hackett. Michael Miner and Ed Neumeier are also on board in that role: the two of them once wrote the screenplay for the first "RoboCop" film directed by Verhoeven.
James Wan is already excited about the upcoming reboot. Variety quotes him as saying:
"I've been a massive fan of 'Robocop' forever, so getting to help bring this world to television is a dream. What Paul Verhoeven created in 1987 was decades ahead of its time, and its questions about technology, identity, and who corporations really serve have only grown more urgent. With Peter's distinctive vision and bold approach to storytelling, and alongside Ed and our partners at Amazon MGM Studios, we're working to honor what made the original iconic and highlight its relevancy in this modern, tech-driven world, while building something unmistakably new for a global audience."
A decades-long franchise
In Paul Verhoeven's original film, Peter Weller played the protagonist Alex Murphy, alias RoboCop. He was joined by Nancy Allen, Daniel O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, and Miguel Ferrer. The film grossed $53 million at the box office – on a budget of $13 million. Furthermore, "RoboCop" evolved into a franchise that has continued over the years in the form of additional films, TV series, and comics. In 2014, a remake of the same name directed by José Padilha was released in theaters; it had a budget of about $100 million and grossed a total of $242 million.
It will be interesting to see whether the new series leads to a major renaissance for the franchise – or whether it will ultimately be limited to the eight episodes that have now been announced. In any case, Amazon seems to be enthusiastic. Variety quotes Peter Friedlander, head of global television for Amazon MGM Studios, as saying:
"'Robocop' is a franchise that has meant something to audiences for nearly four decades – not just as an action spectacle, but as a sharp, provocative mirror of our relationship with technology and power. Peter Ocko has crafted a vision that honors the soul of what made the original so enduring while building something entirely fresh and urgent for today."
It remains to be seen whether the result will actually be convincing. However, we'll probably have to wait a while longer before we can see the new version of "RoboCop." A release date has not yet been announced. We'll keep you posted!
