RoboCop Remake Adds 3 More To Cast

The “RoboCop” remake continues to get more and more intriguing. At the rate they’re going, they’re in danger of being taken seriously as a quality project. Imagine that. After adding Oscar nominee Gary Oldman (“The Dark Knight”), the Jose Padilha-directed film now has three more names in its cast list. And I must say they’re all great choices.

First, there’s Samuel L. Jackson, the man who’s known to take every single role he’s ever offered. But lack of discerning taste aside, it’s always good to see Jackson in a genre pic, especially if he’s allowed to tap into those authoritative, fearsome vibes he gives out in his best performances (“Pulp Fiction”). According to The Hollywood Reporter who broke the news last week, he’ll play a character called Pat Novak, a powerful TV mogul in the futuristic, media-saturated world of the film. This is a new character, since there was no equivalent in Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 original.

Then there is Brit actress Abbie Cornish (“Sucker Punch”), who Deadline says is in final talks to play the role of the wife of ill-fated Officer Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) aka RoboCop. That’s an interesting turn, as it seems like this version might be placing a bit more focus on Murphy’s domestic life. Perhaps in a move to amp up the sense of loss and tragedy. No word on whether the other central female character, Murphy’s partner Anne Lewis, will appear in this remake.

And yesterday, another casting coup took place in the form of Hugh Laurie. Yes, TV’s Dr. House. And he will be playing a bad guy. Heat Vision broke the news that Laurie has signed on to play “the evil and ultra-rich CEO of Omnicorp, the company that makes RoboCop”. That means he’s taking on Ronny Cox’s role of Dick Jones from the original, a deliciously slimy corporate hardass. Laurie is quite an unexpected choice but the more I think of it, the more I think he’ll be excellent in the part.

“RoboCop” is scheduled to premiere 9th August 2013.