I’d Stream That For A Dollar: New RoboCop Show Headed To Prime Video

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published 22 seconds ago

In some ways, it’s fair to call RoboCop the most universally appealing hero of the ‘80s. Despite the movie’s R-rated and obscene amounts of violence, the film was a hit with children who enjoyed how the main character merged two of their favorite heroes: cop and robot. Meanwhile, adults appreciated the film for being an absolutely brutal satire of capitalism. Of course, children and adults alike enjoyed how the heavy messages of the movie are wrapped in unforgettable fight scenes and ridiculously quotable dialogue. As films go, RoboCop is truly one of a kind. Unfortunately, that proved to be a problem when it came to growing the franchise.

You see, RoboCop is a bit like Highlander: each franchise has one good movie followed by worsening films and mediocre TV shows. After RoboCop 2 and 3, we got two crappy television series (RoboCop and RoboCop: Prime Directives) followed by the abysmal 2014 reboot. Those failed projects frustrated fans and creators alike because RoboCop is one of the coolest characters ever created; how hard can it be to give him a good story? We’re about to find out. After announcing development of the series three years ago, Amazon has officially given the green light to a new Robocop TV show.

Somehow, Robert Cop Returned

The premise of the first RoboCop movie is that after one of Detroit’s top cops is killed, he is brought back to life with the help of a cyborg body. This proves to be both a blessing and a curse: while his transformation has made him the most dangerous creature to ever walk the streets, RoboCop struggles with the humanity he has lost. Fortunately, he is kept emotionally grounded by his old partner. Together, they fight crime ranging from petty criminals to the corrupt corporate stooges who are busy running the city into the ground.

Now, RoboCop is getting a new show on Prime Video. The first season will have eight episodes, and the series is being produced by Blumhouse Atomic Monster. The showrunner for Robocop is Peter Ocko (best known for Lodge 49). Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner will serve as executive producers, which is notable because they are the co-creators and co-writers of the original RoboCop movie. Other executive producers include Rob Hackett, Michael Clear, and genre legend James Wan, who described this project “a dream” in a written statement. He called the original movie “decades ahead of its time” and said “its questions about technology, identity, and who corporations really serve have only grown more urgent. “

All Cops Are Bots

Wan is confident that the new Robocop show will be able “to honor 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’s Head of Global Television, Peter Friedlander, is similarly optimistic, saying, “Peter Ocko has crafted a vision that honors the soul of what made the original so enduring while building something entirely fresh and urgent for today.“ According to the official description, the show will explore topics such as “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.” 

Much like Wan, I’ve been a huge nerd for RoboCop for most of my life. But if I’m being honest, the franchise has felt like Alex Murphy’s final moments. It’s wounded, bleeding out, and teetering right on the edge of death. However, Prime Video is about to do for this franchise what OCP did for RoboCop, taking the spark of what’s left and putting it in a newer, stronger body. If the new show is great, fans can joyously shout “I’d buy that for a dollar!” If the new season sucks, though, we can tell all the episodes what Boddicker told all those ladies: “bitches leave!”