RoboCop is among the best sci-fi films of the 1980s, a bloody combination of action, satire, and dystopian criticism that cemented Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 classic in pop cultural legend. While it begat a franchise, none of the lower-celebrity sequels or reboots that followed were ever able to match the grindhouse nastiness and brilliance shine of the original film. Longingly, fans have hoped for a worthy sequel, one which would ignore the lesser-celebrity installments and bring RoboCop back to his humble beginnings.
There has long been talk of a sequel to the original that ignores the three films that followed, but this hasn’t yet come to fruition. With Amazon Studios now owning the rights to RoboCop, it appears that the planned RoboCop Returns has officially been scrapped.
RoboCop Returns Was Announced in 2018
There was a lot of excitement among sci-fi fans when RoboCop Returns was announced in 2018. The original writer from the first picture, Ed Neumeier, said that he was writing a direct sequel, which imagined that the sequels hadn’t happened. It would have been a direct continuation of RoboCop, and the aim was to keep the old-school style alive.
Plans for the picture gained traction, and director Neill Blomkamp was tasked with reviving the gritty tone and themes of the original. There was even talk of using the same RoboCop suit to ensure that there was a clear relationship between the two movies. Unfortunately, the picture got stuck in development hell, and never came to fruition despite a lot of positive news that the wheels were in motion.
That could have been a blessing in disguise, as the previous attempt at a RoboCop reboot in 2014 was not a major success. Now, though, Amazon Studios has picked up the rights to the franchise. The company has a vast amount of wealth at its disposal, and could have a better chance of creating a box office smashing reboot.
Amazon Now Plans to Expand RoboCop Franchise
According to reports, RoboCop Returns will no longer be happening. However, Amazon has grand plans for the franchise. Indeed, the company reportedly sees it as one of its recent MGM acquisitions with the most potential. The $8.5 billion purchase of that company in 2022 gave Amazon the rights to various other IPs such as Stargate, but RoboCop is reportedly the one it’s putting the greatest focus on.
There are plans to release a television series and a movie already, and there will most likely be other official offerings in other media. One of RoboCop’s strengths has been the way it lends itself well to games, and there have been countless titles over the years. The RoboCop slot game is one of the most popular slots, found alongside other jackpot slots like Mega Moolah and Burning Desire. The fact that it’s still a big attraction in the modern online casino industry highlights how there’s enduring interest in the franchise.
With Netflix branching into games already, there’s a chance that Amazon plans to do the same. RoboCop is one series that offers a route towards this, as it has proven to be highly adaptable in the past. With RoboCop’s versatility and ongoing popularity, the bigger picture from Amazon in building the franchise can mark the beginning of a new thrilling chapter. Even if RoboCop Returns isn’t in production anymore, its cancellation doesn’t point toward the end; rather, it’s wiping the slate clean for something bigger.
With films, series, and perhaps even games in the works, RoboCop is poised for a reboot that honors its gritty origins and evolves to fit the modern story-telling mediums. With the right blend of nostalgia and ingenuity, RoboCop may yet return to enforce the law (and captivate audiences) in ways previously unfathomed.
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