Remember when there was a buzz on the street (and by street I mean internet) that Aronofsky was attached to a Robocop remake?
Well that rumour seemed to have disappeared as fast as Britney Spear’s panties in a Hollywood night club, and now his name is back in the news attached to direct Black Swan with Natalie Portman. Does this mean Aronofsky is not prioritizing Robocop? MGM is still interested in making it happen, so will they go on without him?
MGM refused to comment on the rumor to The Hollywood Reporter and it’s worth noting that Aronofsky is still very much attached at this time. The thinking is that MGM is willing to wait for Aronofsky to do BLACK SWAN as long as ROBOCOP is a top priority when he’s finished. I see looking for a new director as simply a contingency plan in case BLACK SWAN hits delays or the development process for ROBOCOP just drags on far too long for their liking.
Now Aronofsky might be their pick, but I could imagine this project could be helmed by anyone. If there are further delays, it wouldn’t bother me at all to see him replaced. Robocop doesn’t seem a big fit with the rest of his resume, but he could elevate the 80s cheese sci-fi we all love into something solid.
But so could a lot of directors who are not taking on other jobs first. If this gets delayed, I would rather they move forward with someone else instead of waiting around for him.
They should just get Paul Verhoeven to direct again.
Would love to see how he tackles an old film of his with whats current now.
original robocop is timeless, i hope this project gets cancelled altogether.
It should be Paris Hiltons Panties.
What else has this guy directed.
Most recently: The Wrestler, The Fountain and Requiem for a Dream
Come on guys, don’t be dumb.
James F’in Cameron.
Obviously.
It would be nice if Hollywood just came up with some more original content rather then sequeling, prequeling and remaking previous hits.
On the other hand, it would be interesting to see Aronofsky take on a movie like this.
It would be nice if you actually knew something about Hollywood.
There are ten times as many original films produced every year that are NOT remakes.
These are just easier to advertise.
Come on Rodney, be nice.
As much as I freakin love it when my favourite movies from my childhood get remade, it does seem that Hollywood is relying an awful lot on remakes the past few years.
I would love to see a Robocop reboot or sequel, though, especially if it’s done by Aronofsky.
Really? Because I remember 10 years ago having this same conversation with people online while they were all saying there is “no original thoughts left in hollywood” despite thousands of films being made and maybe 2 dozen are remakes and sequels.
I wasn’t being mean. The truth is mean.
I was also referring to prequels and sequels…But you’re right, there are many more original movies in hollywood then there are remakes, sequels and prequels, they just don’t stand out as much because they don’t have past successes to rely on.
Of course, there are plenty of great, original movies being made all the time. And as much as I would love to see a new Robocop, you have to ask yourself: “Where does it end?” Is Hollywood going to remake every great movie from the 80’s and 90’s? It really does seem like they are running out of ideas, which is obviously not the case.
I thought they were not trying a remake but have a “future” RoboCop. Hmm. In any case, either way, remake or no, I’d much rather MGM move on with another director. It’s not that I never got into Darren Aronofsy’s films, no, on second thought, I never got into Darren Aronofsy’s films. Which is kind of odd because I’ve always liked David Cronenberg and David Lynch….but I never liked Darren Aronofsy’s films. Strange….
Anyway, I’m racking my brain of who would make a good fit for RoboCop, be it remake or what have you. I don’t know which direction which the folks behind this will go. If they wanted someone like Darren Aronofsy, that makes it all the more tougher. I’m stumped. I’m completely stumped.
But, should the redo (?) be in the spirit of the original? Now there’s a list. The first three that spring to mind in my mind in order are:
1) Ryûhei Kitamura
2) James Gunn
3) Mike Mendez
Kitamura, of course, would seem like the best fit for something like a return to an R rated RoboCop, with being the director of Vesus, Midnight Meat Train and Sky High.
Gunn, of course, directed the horror-sci-fi Slither, which also had intentional over the top camp moments. Gunn could fit in to Robo.
Mendez helmed a llow budget horror film called The Gravedancers which I enjoyed start to finish.
And then…
I’m stumped again.
“But, should the redo (?) be in the spirit of the original?”
I hope it’s not in the spirit of the original. If I want to see some like the original I’ll watch the original. I’d like to see somebody like Aronofsky re-imagine Robocop, or maybe by somebody like David Fincher or Danny Boyle. Somebody that is going to create a wholly new experience that is not like sitting back and reliving the old.
“Aronofsky might be their pick, but I could imagine this project could be helmed by anyone.”
I’ve got a pretty active imagination and there is virtually no movie that I cannot imagine being directed by somebody else, but that does not mean somebody else directing it would make it more interesting. Sure just about any other director could be chosen for Robocop, but there are very few that would pique my curiosity as much as Aronofsky does… and it is the “rest of his resume” that makes me so intrigued.
I just like to point out how not every classic film has to be remade. Sure it look better but it just wouldnt have the same appeal. Everything worked well in this movie. Casting, story, action, special effects(for the time), etc. If anything the studio could just pull a lucas and re-shoot the special effects, locations, and low-tech/hi-technology. Put it out in Summer of next year and make a few millions of dollars.