Dan Stevens would buy that for a dollar! Now that a series reboot of RoboCop is moving forward, Amazon MGM Studios has found its titular hero in the Downton Abbey star, who took to Instagram to share the news first reported by Deadline.
“Buzz buzz…” reads the post. “Dead or alive, you’re coming with me.”
Building on the previous announcement that Robocop — note that it’s spelt with a lowercase ‘c’ instead of the uppercase used for the original — will consist of eight episodes and retain the same premise and thematic exploration of corporate greed, more details about its plot have also surfaced. Stevens is set to play a new version of Alex Murphy, a fallen police officer who’s revived as a powerful robot, with the official logline as follows: “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.”
Peter Weller starred as the protagonist in the 1987 action classic, directed by Paul Verhoeven. Writing this new take is showrunner Peter Ocko (Lodge 49), while James Wan, Michael Clear and Rob Hackett serve as executive producers alongside original co-creators Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner. Wan’s Atomic Monster is producing, and a release date has yet to be set.
Robocop marks the latest effort in expanding the universe, which includes a 1988 animated TV series, the RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3 sequels, several TV adaptations, and a 2014 film remake starring Suicide Squad alum Joel Kinnaman to date. In a press release announcing the series, Amazon states why it’s the perfect time to revisit the franchise:
“What began as a bold social satire — blending visceral action with a critique of corporate greed, privatisation, and the nature of identity — has resonated across generations, spawning sequels, television series, video games and comic books. Its themes of humanity versus technology and the consequences of unchecked corporate power feel more relevant today than ever, making it the ideal property to reimagine for a new era of television.”
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
