‘RoboCop’ remake described as ‘hell’ by director Jose Padilha
The “RoboCop” remake has had a rocky road to production with a scathing review of the script by HitFix, Hugh Laurie (“House”) bowing out of the role as villain and now reported creative problems between director Jose Padilha and the studio.
MGM
Comments from Padilha to a close friend, Fernando Meirell, were released to a Spanish news source and published in the US website Screencrush on Monday.
“I talked to José Padilha for a week by phone. He will begin filming Robocop. He is saying that it is the worst experience. For every 10 ideas he has, 9 are cut. Whatever he wants, he has to fight… ‘This is hell here,’ he told me. ‘The film will be good, but I never suffered so much and do not want to do it again.’ He is bitter, but it’s a fighter,” Meirell stated.
This is Padilha’s first major feature film (he previously directed Elite Squad), so it’s not exactly surprising that MGM is keeping a close watch on the property. That said, it sounds like the studio is really at odds with what Padilha wants to do.
Many fans may be keeping “RoboCop” on their radar screen, but Padilha has assembled an impressive cast which stars Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jay Baruchel, Jennifer Ehle and Michael K. Williams.
The loss of Laurie was announced on Friday citiing that he was never officially onboard and that the negotiations have fallen through.
“RoboCop” is still set for an August 9, 2013 release date, so stayed tuned for the casting of a new villain.
