It’s the Booze Talkin’; Bring back Paul Verhoeven for RoboCop Returns!

There are certain movies that you loved as a youngster, ones that you see again and find that their magic fades when you revisit it years later. This happens for all of us as our tastes change, and perhaps we are less finicky when we are young. However, one film in particular that I loved as a kid happened to have a profound effect on this viewer to this day. Just a few year ago, I decided it was a perfect time to re-watch ROBOCOP after several years of stepping back. While I remembered loving it, I wasn’t sure if the magic that Paul Verhoeven brought would hold up. It did. This ultra violent and intensely exciting action flick not only worked years later, it has become one of my favorite films of all time. As brilliant as the original is, the sequels and the remake never quite found the right tone that Verhoeven’s 1987 classic offered.

Recently, there has been a lot of talk about a sequel, one like Blumhouse's HALLOWEEN, that would directly link to the first feature. And for awhile the prospect of Neill Blomkamp was a promising one. After helming the R-rated DISTRICT 9, ELYSIUM and CHAPPIE, many fans were curious about what he could bring to a new take on ROBOCOP. It was something a whole lot of us hoped for considering how lackluster the remake was. Much like Blomkamp’s idea for a new ALIEN feature with Sigourney Weaver, he appeared to really like the idea of bringing Peter Weller back for a proper return. However, this is something we will never know because, as we reported on, the director has dropped out to do a horror/thriller and apparently MGM didn’t want to wait. So we need a new director eh?

Here’s the thing, out of all the ROBOCOP films there really has been only one great one. You know, the one directed by Paul Verhoeven. As of late, the director has taken a very different path from his years of doing STARSHIP TROOPERS and TOTAL RECALL. In fact, his most current features are character driven spy thrillers like BLACK BOOK in 2006, or the revenge drama ELLE from 2016. These stories aren’t loaded with explosions and a ton of effects driven action, but rather human drama that escalates the thrills. That said, is there any doubt that this accomplished filmmaker couldn’t take on a dark and gritty return to the futuristic world presented in ROBOCOP? Again, this man has made seriously iconic, wonderfully inventive sci-fi features in the past. He could easily do this again.

One of my favorite aspects of what Verhoeven offers in his bold and thrilling action and science fiction adventures is that he's able to inject humor and humanity in his intensely violent stories. Who didn’t feel a little something for Weller’s Murphy? The director clearly understands the complexity of what turning a human into a killing machine could actually do. The original feature never felt like just a simple shoot ‘em up type of flick. It was a personal story as well as an insanely horrific one. Yet with that violence came an emotional connection. The filmmaker managed to bring that to his hit flick, something that was mostly lost on the following films. And while the remake attempted to find that balance, it was only an echo of the smart ideas that Verhoeven and screenwriters Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner brought.

Perhaps some may fear that the director is up there in age, and maybe some think that the material should be given a fresh approach. I disagree. One of my favorite films of the decade is the return of MAD MAX: FURY ROAD. This hyper and intense ride is a smartly crafted action film that worked gloriously because George Miller returned to direct. He understood Max Rockatansky better than anyone else could have. I have little doubt that Verhoeven could bring that same energy and enthusiasm to ROBOCOP RETURNS – the current title to the sequel. In addition, the director is still making quality films, so why not let the master return to a territory that’s familiar to him. If anybody could make a worthy return, it would be Verhoeven.

Maybe it’s the booze talkin’, but bring Paul Verhoeven back to RoboCop. This accomplished director has given fans several amazing films, and he has continued to make powerful tales of intrigue and revenge. While his recent work is far less spectacular in the effects department, I have little doubt the director would be perfect to bring Murphy back. With his understanding of effects driven thrillers, I fully believe that he is up to the task. While they are certainly both older, I would be first in line to see both Verhoeven and Weller return for a new ROBOCOP sequel. And  yes, I’d definitely buy that for a dollar! What do you think? Should Verhoeven return? Or is there another director that you’d like to take on ROBOCOP?