Joel Kinnaman says RoboCop is not a remake

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

Is there a dirtier word among film buffs than 'remake'? Perhaps a variation of the word such as 're-imagining' or 'reboot', but it all boils down to the same thing, right? It's not really surprising that fans get upset when the studios decide to take a crack at reinventing a cherished film but every now and then we find ourselves surprised at the output (EVIL DEAD, anyone?). Sure, these remakes can hardly hold a candle to the original but sometimes they're worthwhile in their own right. We're hoping that is the case with ROBOCOP.

We just learned that the Jose Padilha-helmed ROBOCOP was just slapped with the PG-13 rating (cue the chorus of "Boo's") which leads one to believe that this will be a weak attempt at re-imagining the iconic character, but ROBOCOP star Joel Kinnaman wants you to know that this version of the story isn't exactly a remake. Say what??

SFX Magazine has unveiled the cover to their latest issue and it features none other than ROBOCOP as played by Joel Kinnaman in the upcoming film. The magazine also spoke with Kinnaman, who had some interesting things to say about getting cast in the film. Says Kinnaman…

“When I first heard there was gonna be a RoboCop remake, I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll see that somewhere down the line. But it’s nothing I’m interested in pursuing myself.’ Then when I heard it was José Padilha that was gonna direct it, I became very interested. José has fought very hard and succeeded in making something that has a point of view, and a political and philosophical perspective.”

Kinnaman also acknowledged that while they're remaking a beloved film, he doesn't consider it a total remake, stating…

“It’s a great responsibility. Especially in a world where there’s a lot of remakes being made for cynical economic reasons. But having José as a director washed away those fears. The biggest respect you can pay to the original is to acknowledge it as a very intelligent movie, and try to make something intelligent to follow it up with, and not just replay old catchphrases. We kept one or two as a wink to the fans, but we did not try to remake the movie.”

I'm not so sure that I'll buy that for a dollar, but we'll just have to wait and see.

Opening in theaters and IMAX on February 12, the Jose Padilha-directed film stars Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jay Baruchel, Jennifer Ehle and Marianne Jean-Baptiste.