Darren Aronofsky Still Talking RoboCop, MGM Still Serious About Red Dawn

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on July 9, 2008

MGM moves forward with Red Dawn, Robocop Remakes

Buried somewhere inside of this big article about MGM’s new boss-lady Mary Parent over on The Hollywood Reporter is a little tidbit that seems to have the geek-o-sphere all worked up into a frenzy. The story doesn’t say a whole lot that is new, as speculation started back during the Cannes Film Festival that Requiem for a Dream director Darren Aronofsky would be taking on the reboot of the RoboCop franchise, but it appears to be worth mentioning again.

As well, Parent and MGM Chairman and CEO Harry Sloan announced yesterday that the remake of 1984’s Red Dawn is also moving forward. It will be helmed by Dan Bradley, who has served as a second unit director on The Bourne Ultimatum, Spider-Man 3 and the forthcoming Bond film Quantum of Solace. The studio has also commisioned Disturbia co-writer Carl Ellsworth to script the Red Dawn remake, with the intention of giving it a very terrifying post-9/11 sort of tone.

“The tone is going to be very intense, very much keeping in mind the post-9/11 world that we’re in,” Ellsworth explained. “As ‘Red Dawn’ scared the heck out of people in 1984, we feel that the world is kind of already filled with a lot of paranoia and unease, so why not scare the hell out of people again?”

So there you have it — MGM and new boss-lady Mary Parent are looking toward the avenue of remakes in an attempt to kick-start the iconic studio’s flailing business. On one side, I am pretty pumped about a RoboCop reboot, as it is one of those franchises that could use a “Christopher Nolan Batman Begins” sort of reboot. And while I am not 100% sure that Aronofsky is the kind of director to give it such treatment, I am interested to see where he may go with it.

As for Red Dawn, I am on a “wait and see” threat level. The original was cool, but I’m a bit weary of the post-9/11-esque tone that Carl Ellsworth mentioned. It is possible to turn that into a wicked thriller, but we’ll see.

Which of these remakes interests you more, RoboCop or Red Dawn?


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  • Bill Brasky
    Much like Batman, the first Robocop was pretty cool ... and sequels ran it into the ground.
  • Wolverines!
  • I can see a RoboCop reboot. As for Red Dawn... I haven't had the opportunity of watching the original, so I can't say anything really.

    I'm glad they've found an actual *talented* director to head this remake/reboot, though.
  • Big Word
    Robocop's got my vote for the best relaunch because taking a 9-11 angle on Red Dawn completely takes away from the heart of the concept of the original which was the fact that it was based on Russia being the victors of the Cold War instead of America-how does that tie into Al-Queda????? Anyway, screw that movie in the eye-I'm all about seeing a futuristic Detroit reimagined & RoboCop relaunched because as Bill Brasky says above, Batman (Michael Keaton) was SUPERB but the other movies sucked, (although I liked Batman Forever because of Jim Carrey's "Riddler"), so hopefully a "Batman Begins"-esque relaunch could help put the cool back in RoboCop!
  • I've gotta say ixnay to both remakes above.
    Robocop will be buried in bad CGI... part of the original's appeal was the mix of practical effects and claymation. And can Aronofsky's heavy-handed style mimic the subtle satire of Herr Verhoeven?
    And who'll be the enemy in a post-9/11 Red Dawn? Should be Muslims, but the filmmakers will go the pc route and have Russians or Canadians invading instead. Although if C. Thomas Howell returns to play one of the invading Canucks then I'm in.
  • REDdawnRULES
    No terrorist crap….a new RED DAWN movie..means ….CHINA & Russia Invade ….
    Imagine, the open scene…the blue sky filled with THOUSANDS of crack, hard core Chinese Paratroopers….landing all over the west coast , the great plains & the midwest….the movie centers around Green Bay, Wisconsin…The Packers VS The Chicago Bears game,Just before the fly by during the National Anthem , 70,000 people at Lambeau Field & the sky is filled with 10 thousand Chinese airbourne troops….Game on !!
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