As a film enthusiast with over three decades of watching and analyzing movies under my belt, I must admit that the prospect of a new RoboCop series leaves me both hopeful and skeptical. On one hand, I’ve seen enough reboots and remakes to fill a small library, many of which have fallen short of their predecessors in terms of quality and originality. On the other hand, I’ve also witnessed some unexpected gems that managed to breathe new life into aging franchises.
Regardless if you’re alive or not, you’re coming along with me.” In reference to the RoboCop Ip, many aficionados of Paul Verhoeven’s groundbreaking 1987 film fusion would likely prefer dead. It reminds one of Jurassic Park, where a brilliant original production spawned an ongoing commercial endeavor that never truly reached the initial level of quality demonstrated at its inception. RoboCop, with its intelligent, violent narrative and antagonists as memorable as the protagonist, was not only among 1987’s finest films; it was one of the ’80s elite action movies.
The original RoboCop wasn’t as financially successful as the Jurassic Park series has consistently been. Therefore, when it was revealed that James Wan would executive produce a Robocop reboot series for Amazon, people started to wonder why this decision was made. Considering that RoboCop 2 from 1990 (directed by Irvin Kershner of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back fame) didn’t earn four times its budget like Verhoeven’s film did, and even though it has aged well, it still doesn’t match the IP’s Kickstarter’s sharp satirical impact.
RELATED: New Robocop TV Series In The Works
In 1993, Fred Dekker directed the sequel RoboCop 3, which, like its predecessor, saw mixed financial success but was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans. The primary complaint revolved around the film’s PG-13 rating, as it contradicted the intended portrayal of an overtly violent, satirical depiction of a future dystopia plagued by unchecked greed.
This lesson was not grasped during the early ’90s when the IP initially aimed for small-screen success. More specifically, after the flop of RoboCop 3, an insolvent Orion Pictures granted a television series. Produced by the independent Canadian studio Skyvision Entertainment, the RoboCop series (1994) erred in the same way that the trilogy-ending film did by trying to appeal to a younger demographic.
Essentially, the television adaptation bears a striking resemblance to the critically panned third film, but without adhering to its storyline or star cast. Consequently, it faced the same criticism as the movie did. However, one positive aspect is that Roddy Piper from “They Live” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” made an appearance in an episode, which is certainly noteworthy.
The critical muting continued when José Padilha’s 2014 reboot was released to theaters with a soft thud. It wasn’t as chaotic as RoboCop 3, but it managed to demonstrate that chaos can be more impactful than a film lacking fresh ideas and starring A-list actors who appeared disengaged, longing for a better role. Essentially, it didn’t seem targeted at younger viewers, but its PG-13 rating made it a predictable action movie.
In summary, Padilha’s film seemed to mark the end of the RoboCop series. However, the 2023 game “RoboCop: Rogue City” received impressive reviews and brought Peter Weller back as the voice actor for the character. Yet, don’t anticipate seeing Weller in the Amazon reboot since its description – “A massive tech corporation partners with the local police to create a technologically advanced enforcer to tackle rising crime…” – suggests that it will be another attempt to restart the franchise from scratch.
To put it simply, there’s a good reason for optimism about this project. Wan, similar to Jordan Peele as a producer, leaves an undeniable mark on the projects he’s involved with. Additionally, Peter Ocko, who has served both as showrunner and writer, has been instrumental in some of the most acclaimed series from the 2000s and 2010s, such as The Office, Pushing Daisies, The Leftovers, and Black Sails.
The first pair of projects demonstrate his ability to handle the satirical aspect in RoboCop, while the following two, to some extent, showcase his ease with violent content. Moreover, being an Amazon series, it’s not limited by the need to appeal to a broad audience by adhering to a PG-13 rating.
It’s quite doubtful that the new Robocop version will deviate much from the tone of the initial two films. Essentially, this TV adaptation offers an opportunity to portray Robocop more authentically, as the character was intended. Here’s to hoping the creators can execute this effectively, given that others have faced challenges in doing so before.
Amazon’s Robocop series is in development.
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2024-11-12 03:09