Things have not been going well for the ROBOCOP remake. The new interpretation of Paul Verhoeven’s classic 1980s sci-fi was never going to be an easy sell, but the warning lights have constantly been flashing. First there was the talk of a script that sent ROBOCOP to Afghanistan, then we saw the pictures of ROBOCOP looking less ‘robot’ and more plastic figurine, the director was also reported as saying the production was ‘Hell’. Now it seems to be the final nail in the coffin from Sony pictures as ROBOCOP has been pushed back from its prime summer release date of 9th August 2013, to a deathslot on 7th February 2014. Sony already failed with a summer release for this year’s Verhoeven remake TOTAL RECALL, so perhaps they are just trying to slide this one in as quietly as possible.
Sony obviously have more faith in DISTRICT 9 director Neil Blomkamp’s ELYSIUM as they have put it in ROBOCOP’s now vacated slot, when originally it was set for a Spring release on 1st March 2013. And why stop there? CLOUDY 2: REVENGE OF THE LEFTOVERS has been moved up from a 7th February 2014 release date to 27th September 2013. This is most likely due to HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA’S recent success.
These new release dates pretty much confirm what we’ve believed all along, that Paul Verhoeven remakes aren’t a good idea and that Neil Blomkamp is the man to watch in the world of science fiction.
Source: Box Office Mojo
