Movie News
MGM: Hobbit, New Robocop Are On the Horizon
Posted by Cole Abaius (cole.abaius@filmschoolrejects.com) on March 16, 2008
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?
Read more articles by Cole Abaius
7 Comments
March 17th, 2008 at 1:45 am
It’d be awesome if it was MORE Robocop instead of REMAKE of Robocop, which I’m sure it will be. Pink Panther 2 a tentpole?
Death Wish will be written and directed and starring Sylvestor Stallone (so the rumors say) so that may be cool.
Cole you smell.
BLAMMO.
March 17th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Robocop should be Rated-R
March 17th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Wow, Fure. Wow. I’m not sure whether I should attack your lame excuse at insult or your excitement for Sly in Death Wish. For the sake of the children, I’ll stick with the latter.
Case in point: Stallone v. Charles Bronson. There is no contest here. Saying that you’re excited about the new Death Wish is like saying Three Days of the Condor starring The Rock is going to be the must-see movie of the year.
You, sir, need some taste.
Blammo, indeed.
March 17th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Of course Sly Stallone is no Charles Bronson, Abaius, but if you were to keep up with the movie news (You do work for a film website, after all) you would know that Stallone’s version of Death Wish sounds to be violent in the vein of “Rambo.”
Perhaps he should just call it “Kersey.” And while I’d prefer them not call it “Death Wish” and just made a hardcore revenge flick, perhaps Sly can deliver the goods one more time. Let us not forget also, that “Death Wish” the novel spawned many sequels of its own unrelated to the movie versions - Kevin Bacon’s “Death Sentence” borrowed some elements and the title.
In closing, you are a jerk.
(Oh snap I am on fire with these insults. PEW PEW PEW BABY, PEW PEW PEW)
March 17th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Frank Miller must be spinning in Denny Colt’s empty grave over Robocop.
March 18th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I know some of these 70’s-80’s remakes/sequels are making some bank, but take a chance Hollywood. Leave Murphy alone. The robocop sequels and T.V shows were punishment enough. The video game was awesome though.
March 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
Robert - your point is a great one, and it leads perfectly into mine: Why do we need to rehash the titles of old movies instead of just rehashing the concepts? So Sly decides to do some vigilante justice, why does it have to be Death Wish? Is Hollywood that afraid of presenting an old idea dressed up in a new name? Do they have to tread on familiar titles in order to scoot audiences into the seats?
Robocop I can understand, but Fame? Make a movie about people trying to make it to the top - and make it original, title it something different and be done with it. It’s not like there’s much case for copyright infringement if the characters are new with different names in different situations. As far as I can see, the only motivation is to capitalize on an old brand name. Lazy.
And speaking of lazy, it’s good to see you’re still posting Fure.