ROBOCOP Remake Script Details Reveal Drastic Suit Design Changes & Ill Conceived Nods to the Original Film

Robocop, a remake of the 1987 sci-fi/action film that features a cybernetic law enforcement officer who patrols the streets of Detroit, is currently in production in preparation for theatrical release in 2013.

In RoboCop, the year is 2029 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the centre of robot technology. Their drones are winning American wars around the globe and now they want to bring this technology to the home front. Alex Murphy is a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit. After he is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp utilises their remarkable science of robotics to save Alex’s life. He returns to the streets of his beloved city with amazing new abilities, but with issues a regular man has never had to face before.

Drew McWeeny, an editor at entertainment news site HitFix.com, has taken to his Twitter account to offer insight into the script for MGM's upcoming Robocop remake that he recently read. Over the course of an hour McWeeny, went into detail about several scenes, the changes made to the Robocop suit and several lines that were included to reference to the original film:

"I tried to read the "Robocop" remake, but 20 pages in my nose started bleeding and I forgot my name... Short version: this script -- [writtern by] Joshua Zetumer with revisions by Nick Schenk -- makes my stomach hurt very, very badly... . It's just a complete rebuilding of it, and I hate pretty much every choice. I will try this again once my blood pressure's gone down. But, seriously, folks, "Robocop" was already perfect... [but] they're full speed ahead right now. With this script.

'In the film, when Murphy is turned into Robocop 1.0, it's described "a high-tech version of the '80s suit." Then they show a focus group scene where criminals laugh at the design. "He looks like a toy from the '80s!" So they not only make sure to include the original design, they also point out it's dated and stupid. So they redesign him to look "meaner" as Robocop 2.0, who passes focus group approval...

'Hold onto your sides for more hilarious "Robocop" details. They outsource his construction to China... And we meet the ED-209s in the field in Iran, where they're used to subdue suicide bombers. Ahhh... now they just dropped Robocop 3.0 onto an Al Queda training camp to see what he does. "He should be programmed to incapacitate in all scenarios."

'By page 54, they are already onto Robocop 4.0, who looks like a "cop on steroids painted metallic blue." Robocop is a Transformer. He goes from "social mode" to "combat mode" and back. Full transformation.

'Page 55, the "Robocop" remake beat me. I'm done. I can't hurt more than this. It's tough to determine tone on the page, but "satire" seems low on their list of priorities. Okay... the two "best" lines in the script:

'First up is at the unveiling ceremony for Robocop in Detroit, from a TV, "I think it's safe to say that Alex Murphy is now part man, part machine, ALL COP!" Yes, I too remember the original poster, asshat.

'Second, after the traumatic first meeting with his father, Alex's son retreats to the apartment of Lewis, Murphy's male partner. The scene ends with the action line "David sits, catatonic, looks at the TV -- MGM REMAKE TBD[ To be determined]."

'Someone shows Pope, head of the OCP project, some mock-ups for Robocop action figures. "Are you kidding? I wouldn't buy that for a dollar!"

'The Abrams Superman had amazing action sequences in it, and JP4 is batshit crazy but I'd watch it... When this thing hits theaters, people are going to call up Len Wiseman's "Total Recall" on the phone and apologize for being so mean. "I'm sorry, 'Total Recall.' I had no idea how bad things could get. You're starting to look like a masterpiece right about now."

'I'll say this: once the script stops all the winky-winky crap and just starts telling a story, it's not terrible. But it's way too late... If you can get past Robocop The Transformer, there are some interesting action beats. And I'm sure Padilla will direct the hell out of it. But overall? Ouch. Ouch. Ohpleasedon't. Ouch. And a big side order of ouch.'

Robocop is being directed by José Padilha (Tropa de Elite/Elite Squad) off a screenplay by Josh Zetumer (Quantum of Solace, The Bourne Legacy) and Nick Schenk (Gran Torino). The film stars Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael Kenneth Williams , Abbie Cornish, Hugh Laurie, Jackie Earle Haley, Jay Baruchel and Peter Weller and will be released in theaters August 9th, 2013.