In 1987, RoboCop set the bar high for the world of sci-fi cinema, telling the tale of a cop so gravely injured that the latest in cybernetic technology was used to help keep him alive. From the gruesome practical special effects to the bizarre look at the not-too-distant future, the film wonderfully encapsulated everything we love about ’80s action films, which is why the film earned a reboot and multiple sequels, with another potentially on the way.
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“I had seen early screenings and people laughed at it so I thought: ‘Oh it might be successful’ and it was more successful than anybody really knew it would be,” original co-writer Ed Neumeier told Zeitgeist of the original film’s popularity. “I didn’t expect to be talking about it thirty years later. It was kind of the start of my career and later we did Starship Troopers – which was an enormous movie that took forever. I think all of that came out of that and it’s nice that people are still interested in RoboCop and they have me working on a new one at MGM right now so maybe we’ll get another one out of it.”
A new sequel might seem implausible, especially given the disappointing 2014 reboot, yet the character’s popularity is undeniable, so the right combination of an actor and filmmaker could provide the magic that the franchise needs to come back from the dead.
Check out our picks of who should become the next Robot Cop.
Peter Weller
Weller starred as Alex Murphy in the first two films, helping establish the character as a sci-fi icon. The actor left the franchise behind with the third film, due to scheduling conflicts, with fans clamoring for his comeback ever since.
Neumeier claims that the sequel he’s working on would follow the events of the original film, which makes Weller the perfect choice for the role. The film would have to justify why the other sequels were ignored, but given how little attention the sequels, comic books or TV series have been given over the years, we doubt anyone would care.
Ray Fisher
Fisher debuted in the DC Extended Universe as Cyborg in Justice League, a movie that was apparently released in November yet no one seems to really remember. The character was injured in a car accident and science was used to bring him back to life, making him half man, half machine, all hero.
A Cyborg movie was announced before Fisher debuted as the character, yet with the underwhelming reception of Justice League, that film seems to be in jeopardy. If that film were to fall apart, Fisher could hone his talents of playing a man plagued by technology in a RoboCop sequel, as his performance in Justice League was one of the film’s few tolerable elements.
Bruce Campbell
With “RoboCop” being a combination of the words “robot” and “cop,” the franchise never took itself too seriously. Add to that the gruesome violence and you have a film that borders on the horror-comedy realm, of which Bruce Campbell is an undisputed icon.
Thanks to the Evil Dead trilogy, Campbell is one of the most charming genre actors of the ’80s, which could be the dose of nostalgia needed to spark interest in a RoboCop sequel. Additionally, one of the few elements of humanity that shine through RoboCop’s armor is his chin, with Campbell having a distinct jaw that even inspired the titles of his books If Chins Could Kill: Confessions of a B Movie Actor and Hail to the Chin: Further Confessions of a B Movie Actor.
Eva Green
While 1991 did see the cheap knock-off “Lady Battle Cop” (yes, that’s a real movie), there hasn’t been an official female RoboCop in any medium, with the series long overdue for badass female representation.
With films like Sin City: A Dame to Kill For and 300: Rise of an Empire, Eva Green proved a formidable foe who can not only physically hold her own, but also take advantage of men’s stupidity for her own personal gain, making her a prime choice to take over the armor.
Unfortunately, given Hollywood’s proclivity to exploit the female form in action films, we can’t help but be apprehensive that any female RoboCop could devolve into “Sexy RoboCop” territory, yet we wouldn’t be surprised if Green punched any executive in the teeth after trying to get her to film a scene of RoboCop in a bikini.
Nick Offerman
Ron Swanson on Parks and Recreation has become one of the most beloved sitcom characters of the last decade, thanks to Offerman’s portrayal of a character who lives by a stubborn, oftentimes absurd moral code. In the years since the show has concluded, Offerman has taken on a variety of supporting roles in movies and TV, still waiting for that leading man role he rightfully deserves.
If there’s one thing Ron Swanson might be most known for, it’s his well-groomed mustache, which Offerman provided himself. Allowing RoboCop’s upper lip to protrude from behind his cowl could be the image update the law enforcer needs.
Kevin James
Much like the 21 Jump Street films completely reinvented a seemingly stale concept, taking the comedic route with a RoboCop film could be the key to its success.
James showed off his abilities as a law enforcer in not one, but two Paul Blart: Mall Cop films, with a potential RoboCop sequel that focuses on a mall cop possibly being the key to a sequel’s success. If nothing else, James starring in a RoboCop movie would absolutely ensure that there would be no fewer than three jokes about farting inside the suit, which movie fans have been thinking about for the last 30 years.
Admittedly, this might not be the version of RoboCop anyone asked for, but lack of interest from the public never stopped Hollywood from making Pixels, with becoming RoboCop at least ensuring James remains employed.
Mall Security Robot
If Kevin James were too busy filming one of his many sitcoms and couldn’t become Mall RoboCop, we don’t think the production would lose out on much if his role was fulfilled by full-blown robots.
The 1986 horror film Chopping Mall explored this concept to a degree, showcasing killer robots who were meant to protect a mall yet went haywire and killed people who were legally allowed to be there. With RoboCop often maintaining control over his limbs and bodily functions, removing the humanity from the character could result in more of a horror film than the action-oriented original, but it would help give rise to the RoboCop/Chopping Mall Cinematic Universe we have all been dying for. After all, “RoboChopping Mall” is too good of a concept not to use. Die-hard fans might not approve of going all robot, but since the film wasn’t called “RoboHuCop,” a human isn’t necessarily required.
Additionally, the film could draw from the real world for inspiration and explore the bleak outlook a mall robot has when they realize they have nothing to live for.
