Dead or alive, a new RoboCop series is coming to Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios has announced that a reboot of the 1987 sci-fi classic is in the works from Blumhouse Atomic Monster, three years after its initial announcement.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, 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. Peter Ocko (Lodge 49, Pushing Daisies) serves as executive producer, showrunner, and writer, while James Wan is set to executive produce alongside Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner, co-creators and co-writers of the original film, as well as Michael Clear and Rob Hackett.
The official series order description reads, “Since its debut in 1987, Robocop has endured as one of the most iconic and culturally significant franchises in science fiction. 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.”
“I’ve been a massive fan of Robocop forever, so getting to help bring this world to television is a dream,” Wan shared. “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.”
He added, “With Peter’s distinctive vision and bold approach to storytelling, and alongside Ed and our partners at Amazon MGM Studios, we’re working to honour what made the original iconic and highlight its relevancy in this modern, tech-driven world, while building something unmistakably new for a global audience.”
Other details about the project, including a release date and cast, are being kept under lock and key. It’s not the first reboot, either, with the best-known effort likely being 2014’s film starring Joel Kinnaman. Paul Verhoeven directed the original RoboCop featuring Peter Weller as the cyborg law enforcer, and its success spawned a franchise that includes the RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3 sequels, a 1988 animated TV series, and several live-action endeavours.
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
