Amazon Prime is rebooting the 1987 sci-fi classic Robocop as an eight-part TV series, three years after acquiring the rights to the franchise. The streaming service has announced plans for an eight-episode series.
Original Film's Controversy
The original Robocop, about a policeman who is turned into a robot after being fatally injured in Detroit, was a big hit but highly controversial due to its intense violence and gore. Famed American critic Roger Ebert labelled it 'the most violent kiddie movie ever made'.
Creative Team
Peter Ocko is showrunner on the new series, with James Wan, Michael Clear and Rob Hackett executive producing. Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner, who co-created the film, are also executive producers. Peter Friedlander, head of global TV at Amazon MGM Studios, said: 'Robocop is a franchise that has meant something to audiences for nearly four decades...we believe this series will captivate a whole new generation of fans on Prime Video.'
Themes and Relevance
James Wan said: 'What [director] 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 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.'
Amazon added: '(Robocop’s) 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.'
Previous Installments
Three Robocop movies were originally made, including 1990 and 1993 sequels. A more modern version came out in 2014 alongside some animation shows.
