Tweet

In a recent press release, MGM announced the hiring of Mary Parent away from Universal to act as Chairperson, answering directly to the CEO.

With this change, alongside Tom Cruise’s taking over of United Artists, the studio is hoping to gain the footing that they’ve lost over the years.

The announcement also comes lauding their progress since 2005, specifically mentioning Peter Jackson and The Hobbit – although not mentioning their legal troubles or the possibility that the films may not get off the ground – and their plans for the future.

These plans include growing the brand by bringing “new installments of two of its tentpole franchises — the new James Bond movie Quantum of Solace and Steve Martin in Pink Panther 2.” Despite a lack of details, the press release also mentions Thomas Crown Affair 2, The Outer Limits, Robocop, Death Wish and Fame.

It would seem that MGM’s vision for the future is the past. First, to call Pink Panther one of their tentpole franchises really speaks to how desperate things have gotten. It also doesn’t impress much that their new films are all remakes or rehashes from the 1980s. This is their innovation?

The ray of shining light there is the prospect of seeing Robocop back in action. Having Alex Murphy cleaning up the streets again would be awesome. So perhaps MGM does have something up its sleeve. And who knows? Maybe a Fame trilogy is just what the movie-going public has been clamoring for.

Sound Off: What do you think of more Robocop?