Entertainment
After Cancelling ‘Stargate’, Prime Video Moves On With Major ’80s Sci-Fi Reboot
One of the main allures of Hollywood lies in the subtle fact that classics never truly die. Should a movie or television show from a decade or two ago, or even more, garner enough attention, a reboot could be sanctioned to roll back the years. For instance, a brand new, 12-episode Baywatch reboot is officially slated to premiere on Fox in January 2027 as the classic 90s lifeguard series gets a makeover. Big studio, Warner Bros. has reportedly also gotten into the groove, scheduling a new reboot of the 80s cult classic, Gremlins, with Chris Columbus returning to write and produce.
While the originals might be classics, a well-made reboot could attain such a title in short order if done properly, and that is exactly what Amazon MGM Studios is aiming for with its next big property. However, that might prove a tall order, especially with a reimagining of Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 sci-fi classic RoboCop looming large. Generally, it should arguably be a rule not to remake Verhoeven’s titles within Hollywood, as previous attempts to replicate the Dutch filmmaker’s artistry have failed. Reboots like Total Recall (2012) and RoboCop (2014) both struggled to justify their own existence while offering few compelling updates on their original versions.
However, Prime Video, after recently come to the decision to shelve plans for the revival of the classic sci-fi franchise, Stargate, has set its sights on yet another classic sci-fi franchise with RoboCop. The project was first announced in 2023, and World of Reel recently provided an update on the reboot, which will reimagine the legendary sci-fi saga as a television series. According to a new report from World of Reel, the new series will see contemporary horror master James Wan, who was already attached as an executive producer, direct key episodes. Also in this new report, which comes after an extended period of silence, is the revelation that the RoboCop series is reportedly preparing for a six-month shoot next January in Vancouver.
Prime Video’s ‘RoboCop’ Series First Alleged Plot Details Promise a Bold New Direction for the Franchise
Along with the reported shooting date, alleged plot details for Prime Video’s RoboCop reboot have surfaced online. The upcoming Robocop series will reportedly focus on a character named Marc Kyle, as opposed to Alex Murphy, who was the main character of the original Robocop films of the late 80s, early 90s and the 2014 reboot. Furthermore, Kyle will also reportedly start off as a soldier rather than a police officer, his death coming from war and not via gang violence in a North American city like previous iterations. Of course, Kyle’s death will, however, clear the way for him to be transformed into a cybernetic officer, where he may serve under the tutelage of Alex Murphy. Yes, the same Alex Murphy from previous installments.
Interestingly, it has yet to be confirmed if Peter Weller will reprise the role of Murphy, as the show might be aiming to have a familiar face that could help drive the narrative of the story across generations. Lodge 49‘s Peter Ocko has been tapped as writer, executive producer, and showrunner for the upcoming title.
There is currently no release date for Prime Video’s RoboCop series. Stay tuned to Collider for updates.
- Release Date
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July 17, 1987
- Runtime
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102 minutes
- Director
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Paul Verhoeven
- Writers
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Edward Neumeier, Michael Miner
- Producers
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Arne Schmidt
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Officer Alex J. Murphy / RoboCop
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Nancy Allen
Officer Anne Lewis
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