Mr. Robot creator developing mini-series based on Fritz Lang’s Metropolis

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

I'm ashamed to admit that one of the gaps in my movie-watching history includes Fritz Lang's METROPOLIS, but perhaps the news that a mini-series based on the film is being developed will give me the motivation I need to finally check out the silent classic.

Per THR, Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail is currently prepping a METROPOLIS mini-series at Universal Cable Productions. It's still very early days on the project and the extent of Esmail's involvement is still being determined, but THR's sources say that UCP isn't even planning on launchin the METROPOLIS mini-series for another two to three years. This would give Sam Esmail the time he needs in order to conclude Mr. Robot's tentative four to five season plan. Although it was met with a mixed-reception at the time of its release, the costly METROPOLIS nonetheless wowed audiences with its massive scope and incredible special effects. It seems that Esmail will have plenty of money to play around with as well, as UCP is apparently willing to spend $10 million per episode. That would put it in about the same budget range as HBO's Westworld, but it likely wouldn't have as many episodes. THR also claims that the plan is to keep the story fairly similar to the 1927 film.

Like the original film, the small-screen adaptation will take place in a future society where wealthy industrialists rule the vast city from high-rise tower complexes, while a lower class of underground-dwelling workers toil constantly to operate the machines that provide its power. Risking everything they know, two star crossed lovers from opposite sides of the divide must find a way to bring down the whole system.

The writers' room is being set up a little less traditionally, with only two or three writers involved, and at the moment the focus is less on writing scripts and more about trying to break down the movie conceptually. As for Mr. Robot, production on the third season of the series is currently underway and is expected to return in 2017.