Screen Rant » robocop

Russell Crowe Being Considered For ‘RoboCop’ Reboot [Updated]

Sandy Schaefer — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:42:21 +0000

There’s been a whole lot in the way of Russell Crowe news reporting (Croweing?) of late. First, the actor was reported as being attached to Akiva Goldsman’s Winter’s Tale adaptation, then word got out that Darren Aronofsky wants him to headline Noah – and now, the news is in that the Oscar-winner could also be a serious contender to star in Elite Squad director José Padilha’s RoboCop franchise reboot.

Crowe’s plate for 2012 was already pretty full before these other stories started circulating, seeing how he’ll soon set to work on The King’s Speech director Tom Hooper’s big-screen treatment of the Les Misérables musical – and now, it seems that Winter’s Tale could begin production as early as September 2012.

Shortly after the report concerning Crowe being eyed for Noah broke, Variety‘s Jeff Sneider tweeted ...

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‘Gran Torino’ Writer To Work On ‘RoboCop’ Reboot

Sandy Schaefer — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:54:52 +0000

MGM’s decision to reboot the RoboCop franchise has incurred much in the way of fan outrage – as has also been true for almost every upcoming remake and reboot that Hollwood is planning. Director José Padilha has helped to cool the tide of fury by frequently discussing his plans to deliver a sci-fi/action flick with a different thematic flavor than Paul Verhoeven’s original film about the titular man-turned-cyborg.

Pretty much all the attention of late (with respect to the new RoboCop) has been focused on Padilha, rather than what buzzed-about newbie screenwriter Josh Zetumer has been doing with the film’s script. That may change, seeing how another scribe has now been brought onboard, to help realize Padilha’s vision.

Heat Vision has learned that Nick Schenk has been hired on to script RoboCop for ...

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Remakes & Reboots: Upcoming Movies You’ve Seen Before

Kofi Outlaw — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 22:45:07 +0000

Sony’s production of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo has once again raised the debate about Hollywood’s current fixation on tried-and-true brand names serving as cinematic tentpoles. Movie remakes and reboots are reviled now more than ever – but is all the hate justified?

In our list we look at over 30 upcoming movies that will be covering some familiar ground, letting you know who is involved, what our take on it is, and how the project should be labeled:

Remake – Recreating a previously released film.
Reboot – Doing a “fresh start” re-launch of a previously established franchise or character.
Reinterpretation – Creating a unique new cinematic vision of literary source material.

Our list consists of films currently in production or confirmed for production, in order of their release dates.

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‘RoboCop’ Director Discusses The Reboot’s Story & Themes

Sandy Schaefer — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:23:16 +0000

Nineteen years (at the time of writing this) have passed since RoboCop 3 opened in theaters to a poor critical reception and a paltry $10 million domestic gross. While news of an impending franchise reboot – which will essentially amount to a remake of the original 1987 RoboCop movie – has not gone over well, it’s not so unusual, in this day and age, for Hollywood to revisit a former cash-cow that ended its run on a sour note (as far as its theatrical release goes).

Most of the creative talent behind the slew of upcoming 1980s movie reboots/remakes (Total Recall, Evil Dead, Commando, etc.) have been selling their projects as being grittier and more realistic in design than their predecessors. However, the director behind the new RoboCop flick, José Padilha, has been largely focused on promoting ...

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Michael Fassbender Talks ‘X-Men: First Class’ Sequel & ‘RoboCop’ Remake

Sandy Schaefer — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 18:26:23 +0000

Moviegoers will have the opportunity to see Michael Fassbender on the big screen multiple times in the near future, between this month’s A Dangerous Method, December’s Shame, and the January 2012 release, Haywire. He will also be co-starring in Ridley Scott’s Prometheus, which is scheduled to hit theaters early next summer.

There’s also the in-development (and tentatively-titled) X-Men: First Class 2, which will see Fassbender reprise his (pretty much) universally-praised turn as a young Erik Lehnsherr/Magneto – along with the RoboCop remake, for which Fassbender has been cited as a possibility to headline.

A followup to X-Men: First Class is slowly, but surely, coming together. It has now secured a screenwriter in the form of Simon Kinberg, and should First Class helmer Matthew Vaughn and his ...

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‘Robocop’ Reboot Director Talks Budget, Script & Casting

Kofi Outlaw — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:58:25 +0000

Elite Squad director José Padilha has been relatively forthcoming with his plans for the Robocop reboot, which is a good stance to take, considering that many fans of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 film still need to be sold on the idea that this reboot even deserves to exist.

The last time we heard from Padilha, the director was discussing how his film will take a different angle of approach than Verhoeven’s did, by focusing more on the existential issues Officer Alex Murphy must face along his transition from man to machine, rather than the social commentary that the original film pushed to the forefront (go back and watch it again, you’ll see what we mean).

Today we have more from Padilha regarding Robocop, and the topics of discussion range from what he’ll do with a bigger budget, more on what the ...

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Michael Fassbender Wanted For ‘RoboCop’ Remake

Sandy Schaefer — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 22:03:37 +0000

Elite Squad helmer José Padilha – the man charged with directing the RoboCop remake/reboot – already has a good idea about how to differentiate his sci-fi project from director Paul Verhoeven’s popular original 1987 film, thematically speaking. The new RoboCop will also have the benefit (or detraction – depending on your perspective) of modern digital-effects and CGI to visually distinguish itself from Verhoeven’s production.

However, while MGM has previously expressed an interest in having an A-lister like Tom Cruise – or a younger actor, such as Chris Pine – in the title role, Padilha has someone a bit different in mind.

Padilha and his RoboCop screenwriter (Josh Zetumer) are – by their own assertion – on the verge of finishing the “final treatment” for the remake, and will meet with MGM officials ...

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‘RoboCop’ Remake Director Promises A Different Sci-Fi Flick

Sandy Schaefer — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 15:18:08 +0000

Most people could probably go without hearing the description “remake/reboot of a beloved 1980s film” ever again. However, the in-development RoboCop re-fashioning could actually be a worthwhile one, seeing that Elite Squad helmer José Padilha - along with Darren Aronofsky as a producer – is onboard to reboot the cyborg cop character for the 21st century.

Rumors about which actor would follow in Peter Weller’s foosteps and portray Officer Alex J. Murphy in the new RoboCop have been circulating for a while now – with Chris Pine being one of the most recently-mentioned candidates.

There has not yet been much in the way of discussion about the approach Padilha and his screenwriter, Josh Zetumer, would take to the RoboCop storyline – and, more importantly, how it will differ from director Paul Verhoeven’s in the beloved original 1987 sci-fi/action flick.

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Chris Pine Eyed for Lead Role in ‘RoboCop’ Reboot?

Chris Schrader — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 03:47:29 +0000

When MGM announced their plans to reboot RoboCop, fans of the original film weren’t exactly shy when it came to expressing their skepticism. After going through a series of setbacks and false starts, the project quickly began to pick up momentum again back in March when Brazilian filmmaker Jose Padilha signed on to direct. His involvement was the first sign that this incarnation of the character would probably be markedly different from Paul Verhoeven’s interpretation of the material.

Padilha is not particularly well-known in the United States, but his Elite Squad films enjoyed enormous success in his home country. They also showcase how differently he handles action and violence. Where as Verhoeven tended to go over the top with those elements to enhance their horrific qualities – push them into the absurd via ...

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‘RoboCop’ Reboot Eyeing Cruise, Depp, and Reeves

Chris Schrader — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:38:18 +0000

Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop was a landmark achievement back in 1987 and remains a pinnacle of the sci-fi/action genre more than twenty years later. Despite how well it’s aged, MGM is crafting a reboot of the property with Brazilian filmmaker Jose Padilha (Elite Squad) at the helm.

Padilha is currently collaborating with screenwriter Josh Zetumer to develop a new take on the material that will reintroduce audiences to the character of Alex Murphy – a slain Detroit police officer who’s resurrected as the cyborg RoboCop. Although the role has been played by numerous actors in various films and television shows over the years, most fans still regard Peter Weller’s performance in the original film and its sequel as the definitive portrayal.

The fact that Weller wasn’t an extremely ...

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Josh Zetumer Hired to Write ‘RoboCop’ Reboot

Chris Schrader — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:14:18 +0000

RoboCop was ahead of its time in 1987, but MGM has decided to replace Paul Verhoeven’s landmark sci-fi film with a newer model. A reboot of the beloved property has been in the cards for several years, but the project really seemed to pick up traction once Darren Aronofsky began circling it. However, the studio’s well-publicized bankruptcy woes ultimately crippled that version of the material.

MGM’s financial troubles may finally be behind them, but they’re still in a very critical stage when it comes to rebuilding their company. The hope is that established brands with built-in audiences will help resuscitate the studio and put it firmly back on its feet. So like it or not, the RoboCop reboot has escaped development hell and is now on the fast track.

Although Aronofsky was reportedly still ...

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‘RoboCop’ Reboot Gets a New Director

Chris Schrader — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 03:22:29 +0000

For fans of Paul Verhoeven’s classic sci-fi/action film RoboCop, rebooting that property has always seemed like a fairly ridiculous idea. Nevertheless, that’s exactly what MGM has been attempting to do for the last several years. Now that the studio’s financial woes are finally behind them, they appear determined to revitalize their brand – which means revisiting several of their most revered franchises.

In addition to Bond 23 and The Hobbit, the RoboCop reboot is clearly a priority project for MGM. As recently as last month, visionary filmmaker Darren Aronofsky was reportedly still attached to direct. However, Aronofsky’s already committed to making The Wolverine for 20th Century Fox and it looks like MGM wasn’t interested in waiting for his availability to open up.

According to Deadline, the studio is ...

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MGM Bankruptcy Saga Ends – Will Bond Be Back Soon?

Kofi Outlaw — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:41:30 +0000

As we previously reported, MGM has finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York. After more than a year of trying to select a specific reorganization plan, MGM has ultimately gone with the plan that names Spyglass Entertainment as the new head of MGM.

Specifically, the plan appoints Spyglass co-heads Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum as co-CEOs of MGM; it was approved by MGM’s board of over 100 lenders, who will trade almost $4 billion in debt for 95% collective stake in the restructured studio.

Despite a last minute bid by MGM debt holder Carl Icahn and his studio, Lionsgate, to take over MGM, the Spyglass deal was approved and has now officially been set in motion. The court will have 30 days to review and approve the plan; if and ...

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Lionsgate Making A Last Minute Play for MGM

Kofi Outlaw — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 20:57:35 +0000

The MGM bankruptcy saga is still unfolding, folks. Last we reported, Spyglass Entertainment was enacting procedures to take over MGM. Spyglass currently has a reorganization plan set in place, and MGM’s board of over 100 lenders have only to vote on the plan and approve it, before Spyglass CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum would take over MGM.

However, Lionsgate – another mini-studio that has been making a bid for MGM throughout this saga – is apparently not going down without a fight.

According to The Hollywood Reporter Lionsgate has employed the services of investors Carl Icahn and Gordon Crawford of LA-based Capital Research to help pitch a new proposal to MGM in order to lure its creditors away from the Spyglass deal. The MGM lenders would have to “throw in the towel” ...

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MGM Files for Bankruptcy; Spyglass Entertainment To Take Over

Chris Schrader — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 17:34:42 +0000

MGM’s financial woes have continually spiraled from bad to worse for the better part of a year and in light of these setbacks, the future of tentpole films like The Hobbit and Bond 23 were called into question. Instead of financing these high profile projects, MGM was forced to put the money towards their $4 billion debt.

Since late June, Spyglass Entertainment CEOs Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum have been discussing a reorganization plan with MGM that would begin with the studio filing for a prepackaged Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. The court process would last around 30 days and then Barber and Birnbaum would take the reigns as the new owners of MGM.

According to Deadline, these events have been set in motion and MGM has begun taking the important first steps towards reinventing itself. ...

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Weekend Movie News Wrap Up: September 5, 2010

Niall Browne — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:36:48 +0000

This week:

George Clooney’s The American out-guns Machete; Olivia Thirlby joins Karl Urban in Judge Dredd; Tom Hardy replaces Michael Fassbender in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; Bob Hoskins, Jason Flemying, Talulah Riley and Willem Dafoe get a Transmission; Jamie Bell joins Sam Worthington On A Ledge; Liam Neeson re-teams with Joe Carnahan for The Grey and Darren Aronofsky talks RoboCop in 3D and more.

Box Office

George Clooney once again proved his movie star credentials by out grossing every other film in the top ten. The American should take in an estimated $16.5 million over the four day holiday weekend, giving the hit-man drama a total gross of $20 million. The film has received positive reviews (read Screen Rant’s here) but the marketing for the film is off the mark – The American is quite different than the film the ads appear to be selling. Will the movie have legs ...

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MGM Gets Another Extension; ‘Bond’ & ‘Hobbit’ Still on Hold

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 21:14:02 +0000

MGM has been granted yet another extension by its creditors, the sixth delay in the studio’s bankruptcy meltdown. If not for this latest extension, the studio would have been forced to either find creditors or file bankruptcy by the end of Wednesday. Needless to say they don’t have the money yet.

The new deadline will be September 15th, and by that time (nearly a year since this fiasco began) MGM will have hopefully settled on a restructuring deal that will help the studio avoid having to sell off its assets in order to pay back the debt it owes to over 140 lenders.

Of course, the bad news for us movie fans is that this latest delay means that the fates of MGM’s top movie properties, The Hobbit and James Bond, will also ...

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MGM Bankruptcy Stalls ‘Three Stooges’, ‘Robocop’ and More

Kofi Outlaw — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 16:51:26 +0000

MGM’s bankruptcy has already delayed the next Bond movie and left The Hobbit without a director, and as predicted, the subsequent fallout continues to claim victims.

We recently reported that the Red Dawn remake has been shelved indefinitely (it’s currently in post-production), and now we have updates on several other films that you won’t be seeing in the near future, thanks yet again to MGM’s money troubles.

Remember The Three Stooges movie that was suppossed to come out? The Farrelly Brothers were directing it, Sean Penn was circling the role of Larry, Benicio Del Toro had reportedly been circling Moe for a longtime… Even Jim Carey was rumored for Curly at one point.

Well, none of that matters now, the film is stalled. No Three Stooges anytime soon (some thought it would be out this year ...

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Aronofsky Still Directing Robocop?

Niall Browne — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:19:48 +0000

Despite recent rumors to the contrary, it would appear that The Wrestler director Darren Aronofsky is still attached to the remake of Paul Verhoeven’s violent 80′s classic RoboCop – this is according to the writer of the film David Self (The Wolfman).

Shock Till You Drop caught up with Self at The Wolfman premiere and asked him about progress on the sci-fi remake. Self said:

“I’m still involved with it and Darren Aronofsky’s still involved with it. He’s making another movie right now, but we’re waiting for MGM, to sort things out since they’re a large corporation and it’s a situation where we have to be practical. We’re waiting to continue with them, we hope that that happens soon and we can get back to it soon.”

The writer also said that the film won’t be a sequel to Paul ...

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Robocop Remake Put On Hold

Kofi Outlaw — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:31:11 +0000

Despite on again off again rumors, last June we got word from Requiem for a Dream director Darren Aronofsky that he would still be helming a remake of the classic 80s film Robocop for MGM.

…And then, in the fall, MGM reported that it was going bankrupt.

We knew that MGM’s financial woes were going to be a major hurdle for some of our most anticipated upcoming films (James Bond, The Hobbit), and it now it appears that Robocop is also a casualty – though not for the reasons you might think.

Moviehole got word from a guy named “Nash” over at Robocop Archive that the production was put on hold after Aronofsky butted heads with the studio execs. Check out the quote from Nash:

“ I’ve spoken with Phoenix Pictures [and] asked them ...

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