For the longest time, there had been attempts to do a legacy film sequel for the “RoboCop” franchise, with directors Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”) and Abe Forsythe (“Little Monsters”) being tapped to tackle “RoboCop Returns” at differnt points in development before the project ultimately pivoted to a series at Prime Video/Amazon MGM Studios in 2024 with James Wan producing.
The Ankler has shared a positive update from Peter Friedlander, head of global TV at Amazon MGM Studios, that “RoboCop” has been greenlit alongside a series adaptation of the comic book “Sex Criminals” from Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon (the pair behind “The Big Sick”).
READ MORE: 15 Must-See April TV Shows: ‘Beef,’ ‘Euphoria,’ ‘Margo’s Got Money Troubles’ & More
This comes after previous reporting from 2024 revealed that the new TV project would be created and showrun by veteran TV writer Peter Ocko (“Dead Like Me,” “The Office,” “Lodge 49”).
Screenwriters Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner had created the script that was helmed by Paul Verhoeven back in 1987, which focuses on a slain police officer, Alex Murphy, who is resurrected by a greedy corporation looking to roll out a line of cyborg/robot cops in Detroit, set in a mega-violent and satirical world (a tone continued with in Verhoeven’s other sci-fi efforts “Total Recall” and “Starship Troopers”). It would be popular enough to land two studio sequels released in the 1990s (the second installment overseen by “Empire Strikes Back” director Irvin Kershner, at the last minute) before Sony Pictures attempted a remake in 2014 with Joel Kinnaman taking over the Murphy role from Peter Weller.
While the idea of a “RoboCop” series might be seen as a little bit disappointing after all the talk of a feature film, this wouldn’t be the first small-screen attempts for “RoboCop,” as there had been the live-action miniseries “RoboCop: Prime Directives” in the 2000s, and the 1994 show “RoboCop: The Series,” both made in Canada (also, multiple cartoon series over the years).
Given the satirical tone of Prime’s hit “Fallout” series (Season 3 is up next), it’s maybe the best time to jump feet first into a “RoboCop” series, but who they’ll end up casting in the project, while likely to have a bigger impact than just who is writing/producing it. Whoever they get to play Murphy/RoboCop will have to be willing to wear the costume that has been a tad restrictive in motion for previous actors.
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
- Christopher Marc
