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Darren Aronofsky's RoboCop Reboot To Be Rated R
by Alex Billington
July 30, 2008
Source: MTV
Last Thursday just as Comic-Con was beginning, MGM decided to announce that Darren Aronofsky was officially directing the RoboCop reboot. However, since that announcement was made, so many new questions have come up: what would it be rated, would it be a direct sequel, would they keep the same themes, and so on. MTV caught up with producers Brad Fischer and Mike Medavoy and tried to get most of those questions answered. The good news is that they expect the film to be rated R, but ideally it's up to Aronofsky in the end. Additionally, they say that this reboot will be much more like Batman Begins than a direct sequel in line with any of the three previous RoboCop movies.
Fischer explains that "none of [the earlier films are] going to be canonical, as a matter of fact… I wouldn't say it's a direct sequel." Fischer's co-producer Medavoy says that they prefer the term "reimagining" instead, as has already been used to describe numerous other projects, including the upcoming Day the Earth Stood Still. While neither of them would even hint at the story, it sounds like this will be a new idea on its own featuring the "concept" of RoboCop but in a different time and place and with a different story. Throwing around Batman Begins is just a way of generating buzz - because all producers like to say that they're own reboot will be as heralded as Batman Begins. Most don't even have that kind of potential to begin with, but this one does. Why? Because the incredibly talented Darren Aronofsky is directing.
Medavoy also confirms that they're open on the rating. "Well I was involved with the original RoboCop, and it was an R, and the likelihood is that this will be an R. It's likely to be an R unless the director cuts back on some of it." I doubt Aronofsky would cut back if the script is great, but who really knows? Everyone seems to be so rating crucial these days, so it's at least a relief to hear that they're not trying to cut it down to a PG-13 level. But getting back to the actual film and the idea, why is RoboCop being rebooted at all? Medavoy explains that primarily the themes within the original have become even more relevant today.
"The themes of machines and technology, for instance, that's certainly become even more prevalent today in terms of man giving up certain things to his creations and his technology and his reliance to that. It's pretty provocative stuff," he said. "You've got people today with all kinds of different implants and mechanical implants. Where does that person become no longer human? After the first one? After 50 percent of the brain gets replaced? A lot of the themes that we dealt with in the original are still very interesting to us."
Although Medavoy's explanation doesn't really make me any more confident, I'm still very excited for this based on Aronofsky alone. Relevant themes are never an entirely legitimate reason for a reboot, because as long as they've got a great story, technology is where it needs to be, and there is a good creative team, then it's always the "right time." And 21 years since the original hit theaters seems like a great time to see Alex J. Murphy rise from the dead again. I'm a huge Aronofsky fan and will remain consistently excited for this reboot until I see or hear something that changes my opinion. As far as I'm concerned, Aronofsky's probably going to actually bring us an awesome reboot on the level of Batman Begins - so be prepared!
28 Comments
1
1) R-rating 2) Batman begins style 3)Aronofsky Looks like they are going to do it right.
Alex on Jul 30, 2008
2
What Alex said above. Those are the three key ingredients to a successful Robocop reboot.
William Mize on Jul 30, 2008
3
This movie is still gonna suck. They at least better have a Cameo from Peter Weller!!!
REAL6 on Jul 30, 2008
4
They'd better have that scene where the guy gets instantly mutated by toxic waste and then explodes when a car hits him.
DCompose on Jul 30, 2008
5
"Dead or alive, you're coming with me!"
Roy on Jul 30, 2008
6
Hmm, this will either go terribly right, or horribly wrong. I loved the original, the sequels not so much. Id buy that for a dollar?
Breach on Jul 30, 2008
7
"But getting back to the actual film and the idea, why is RoboCop being rebooted at all?" honest answer? money. and oh yeah, we can't come up with any original ideas anymore. "The themes of machines and technology, for instance, that's certainly become even more prevalent today..." lol, whatever. i love bull-speak from suits.
Tom on Jul 30, 2008
8
I don't understand what was so horribly wrong with the first movie that you can't just create a sequel with a the Robocop program being reinstated? One can't really compare Robocop with the Bat series because Burton's films were a bit fantastical and left large holes that Nolan successfully grounded filled in for Batman's origin. Likewise, are there huge holes that need to be filled in for Robocop? And Robo was already somewhat realistic...it certainly wasn't all fun and games like Hancock. I think this is wrong. Just build on the first film. And it'll be disrespectful if they don't have a Peter Weller cameo.
Matt Suhu on Jul 30, 2008
9
harry and the hendersons sequel anyone?? when will this all end. credit to the director for wanting to pull this off but i was there in 87 or whenever watching with joy in the cinema one the greatest movies and it made a huge impact, to make something dark and batman like is all hype, script wise it cant be beaten or ill eat my socks...yes to peter cameo, 'i like it'
bassbin on Jul 30, 2008
10
When was the last time you honestly saw a good Hollywood movie that wasn't based on something else? I dare someone, no not just someone, a MAJOR HOLLYWOOD STUDIO, to come up with a great new idea that isn't based on something else.
Kail on Jul 30, 2008
11
From the story blurb: "You've got people today with all kinds of different implants and mechanical implants. Where does that person become no longer human? After the first one? After 50 percent of the brain gets replaced? A lot of the themes that we dealt with in the original are still very interesting to us." Hmmm...Methinks Aronofsky would be better suited to working on the Ghost in the Shell adaptation...
jason_md2020 on Jul 30, 2008
12
love the fact that its rated R, but please make robo cop move faster. The last one he moved really slow.
Darrin on Jul 30, 2008
13
Enough goddamn "reboots"! Especially of great movies like RoboCop which DO NOT need a useless remake. What's next? Back to the Future? (And RoboCop was given an X-rating and trimmed to an R.)
avoidz on Jul 30, 2008
14
I was more enthusiastic about this when it was supposed to be a sequel. Another tiresome and pointless remake just depresses me, however classy the attached director is. Also, as pointed out by another poster, this situation is nothing like Batman, a character that existed in another medium for decades, where there was room for another, very different interpretation of the source material. Robocop was an original movie (remember them?) so it isn't possible to make a more faithful adaptation, the original IS the definitive Robocop!!! The fact that Paul Verhoeven has been snubbed because he isn't 'relevant' any more (translation: not young enough), is pretty offensive as it is, nevermind whether or not Weller has a cameo. As to the chosen director, Aronofsky is great, but he's not exactly reknowned for his sense of humour is he? One of the key factors in the original film's enduring success is the fact that it's very, very funny. It's a satire. I hope they remember that, if nothing else...
Maaad on Jul 30, 2008
15
Just because Afronosky is a great director, doesn't necessarily mean he is the right person for THIS job. However, I think he will do fine. I have talked to him about it a while ago and he seems to know what is going on.
Ryan on Jul 30, 2008
16
LOL at move faster. Never really thought about that... He did have a jet pack booster launch sequence in the third installment of the trilogy. *sighs* They better blow us away w/ this one. With the advancement of today's cgi, i don't see it any other way (unless the acting was horrendous and a script a 3rd grader could muster). I'm gonna be optimistic for this one, though...
BinYe East on Jul 30, 2008
17
Thats why you watch Hollywood for the fluff, and everything else for the substance. Watch some asian cinema, south Korea especially has a booming film industry. Great movies are out there people, you just have to put in the time to find them.
Buttons on Jul 30, 2008
18
Reimagine... I'm going to reimagine a culinary delight. It'll start with a crust, then you add tomato sauce, some cheese and a variety of other toppings to individual taste. PIZZA the REBOOT! It was all my idea. I didn't ride on anybody's coattails to come up with the idea. It's completely original... no, really... it is.
Dave Lister, JMC on Jul 31, 2008
20
Kurtwood Smith better return as Clarence Boddicker, that is all i ask.
The Delightful Deviant on Jul 31, 2008
21
They won't cast Kurtwood as the same character again, so I wouldn't get your hopes up. This is a bad idea all over, but I'm going to see how it plays out. There's an extremely slim chance/miracle this will be good, even great, but the odds are stacked against it.
avoidz on Aug 1, 2008
22
23
Because the original is such a great movie; a movie of its time; writing, actors, director, designs, all coming together to create an absolute classic - that's very difficult to replicate. I'm against a remake (reboot), yeah, but I didn't say it would be bad, just the odds (given the status of the original Verhoeven RoboCop) of it being as good or better are low. And Darren Aronofsky's pedigree as a director is based on, what, a couple of movies?
avoidz on Aug 1, 2008
24
Awesome cant wait.
Don on Aug 1, 2008
25
And Orson Welles' pedigree as a director is based on, what, ONE movie? 🙂
William Mize on Aug 1, 2008
26
An insult for the REAL FANS!
TechnoCop on Aug 1, 2008
27
When the first Robocop (dumb name) came out, a newscaster in the movie said something like "..this used to be something you only saw in the comic books." I remember saying to my friend "Hey, he's a little like Iron Man." (Fans, I was then and am now VERY aware of the differences. I just meant a strong superhero-type guy in a high-tech metal suit--even if the suit was most of him). What probably happened was the same that happened to Star Trek after Star Wars hit. Studio suits were sitting around looking at movie grosses, saw Iron Man, and one says " Duh, wish we had sumthin' like that." Another one says (as his knee jerked) " ...uh, we got an old one called Robocop." "That's it. Let's reboot* that."...and a franchise is born again. Well, it turned out pretty good for Star Trek. (Yes, fans, I know about differences there, too.) Just remember, the original--and only really good--Robocop was a satire. Not sure people would get it nowadays. Satire and its companion Irony are lost on more people than ever as the populace's collective intelligence declines. * "reboot" is, as the newsletter editor pointed out elsewhere, Hollywood's new favorite term. It is already a cliche.
zubzwank on Aug 9, 2008
28
Feed me a stray Robocop.
Patrick Bateman on Feb 1, 2009
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