LOS ANGELES, CA July 24, 2008
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) has signed Darren Aronofsky to
direct and David Self to write a new installment for its ROBOCOP
franchise. Aronofsky, the director of The Fountain, and Self, the writer of Road to Perdition,
make a formidable creative team, fast tracking the ROBOCOP motion
picture and spotlighting it as one of the most anticipated new films
for 2010.
The announcement was made today by Mary Parent, Chairman, Worldwide Motion Picture Group, MGM.
In making the announcement Parent said: “Darren is undeniably one of the
most talented, original and visceral film makers, and David is one of
the greatest writers in Hollywood. All of us at MGM couldn't be more
excited.”
Phoenix
Pictures’ Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Brad Fischer and David Thwaites
will produce ROBOCOP. Cale Boyter, Executive Vice President Production
at MGM will oversee the project for the studio.
Phoenix
Pictures’ Chairman and CEO Mike Medavoy said: “After making the first
ROBOCOP at Orion more than 20 years ago, I’m thrilled to be helping to
return this character to the screen with our partners at MGM and
through the eyes of Darren Aronofsky and David Self.”
Phoenix
co-presidents Brad Fischer and David Thwaites added: “With a filmmaker
of Darren Aronofsky’s vision and imagination and a writer of David
Self’s caliber, we are poised to bring to the screen an entertaining
and provocative film, which will now be under the creative guidance of
two of the best storytellers working in our industry today.”
Aronofsky’s credits include Pi, Requiem for a Dream and The Fountain. He is completing the feature, The Wrestler with Mickey Rourke, Marisa Tomei and Evan Rachel Wood. He is repped by CAA and attorney Carlos Goodman.
David Self's credits include 13 Days and Road To Perdition. He wrote God of War for Universal, to which Brett Ratner is attached to direct, and was a writer on Universal's Wolfman currently in production. He is represented by UTA and attorney Karl Austen.
The
original ROBOCOP, which premiered in 1987, was "part man, part machine
and all cop." The film's storyline focused on the future of law
enforcement as a terminally wounded cop returns to the police force as
a powerful cyborg haunted by submerged memories. The original film was
nominated for two Academy Awards – Best Film Editing and Best Sound.
Since the film’s debut, ROBOCOP has become one of the most successful
titles in MGM's vast film library. The franchise continues as a
worldwide phenomenon, especially in the U.S., Japan, Germany and the
United Kingdom. ROBOCOP, ROBOCOP 2, and ROBOCOP 3 have sold
approximately 4.1 million gross DVD units worldwide.
