Neill Blomkamp to Direct New ‘RoboCop’ Movie Based on Unmade Sequel to 1987 Original

The ‘District 9’ director is the perfect choice.

We knew a sequel was coming, but we didn’t expect this.

Neill Blomkamp, director of the dystopian sci-fi flicks District 9, Elysium and Chappie, has officially been announced as director of the upcoming follow up to the ’80s classic RoboCop. In other words, he’s the perfect choice.

Deadline has the details:

MGM is developing a new installment of RoboCop and has set District 9 director Neill Blomkamp to helm the picture, which is titled RoboCop Returns. The studio hopes to revive a franchise that began with the Paul Verhoeven-directed satirical sci-fi action thriller that Orion released in 1987.

Original writers Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner are producing and exec producing, respectively. Justin Rhodes, who co-wrote the Terminator film that Tim Miller is shooting, will rewrite the script that Neumeier and Miner wrote years ago as a planned sequel to Verhoeven’s hit, an installment that never happened. That duo is creatively involved in moving forward their creation for the first time since the original.

We’re also excited that the film will be based off a script by the original writers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbCbwP6ibR4

The plot of new film? “Anarchy reigns and the fate of Detroit hangs in the balance as RoboCop makes his triumphant return to fight crime and corruption.” Sounds about right!

Here’s more from Deadline on why Blomkamp is ideal for this project:

The original film was a formative touchstone for Blomkamp, whose District 9 grossed $210 million worldwide, got four Oscar nominations and who followed with several science fiction films that carried a polemical message under the surface, including Elysium and Chappie.

He has spent the last few years building Oats Studios in Vancouver, where has been producing short form content he has written, directed and self-financed. Blomkamp jumped at the chance to do a RoboCop that harkens back to and picks up the story line from the original film.

His own films have highlighted themes like immigration, exclusion and the haves and have nots, and while RoboCop — made in the Reagan era and focused on corporate greed — a different part of the original story has become most important to him.

“The original definitely had a massive effect on me as a kid,” Blomkamp told Deadline. “I loved it then and it remains a classic in the end of 20th Century sci-fi catalog, with real meaning under the surface. Hopefully that is something we can get closer to in making of a sequel. That is my goal here.”

We’re just hoping that the sequel will feature more shootouts at cocaine factories…

Stay tuned for a release date to be set—thank you for your cooperation.