Michael Keaton Signs On For ‘Robocop’ Remake

Michael Keaton has signed on to co-star in the upcoming Robocop remake at MGM, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The actor will fill the vacancy left by House alumnus Hugh Laurie, who dropped out of the project last week after negotiations with the actor fell apart.

“Michael is the final addition to the amazing cast we have assembled for this film, and it is so great to have the last puzzle piece in place,” director Jose Padilha explained to THR. “It is thrilling that everything has come together to bring this innovative new vision of RoboCop to life. We’ve got a great script, a great cast, some killer ED-209s, and I can’t wait to get Alex Murphy back on the streets.”

First Showing reports that the Beetlejuice star will portray the CEO of Omni Corp, the company that ultimately brings Alex Murphy back from the dead as the crime-fighting Robocop. Given the veteran actor’s versatility, he should be a nice addition to the production.

Keaton will find himself starring alongside The Killing’s Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, and Samuel L. Jackson. Also rumored to be counted among the cast are Jay Baruchel, Jackie Earle Haley, and Abbie Cornish. If all goes accordingly, the film is slated to arrive in North American theaters next summer.

Although the remake has a solid cast and a talented filmmaker behind the camera, director Jose Padilha has described the production as “hell.” According to Screen Crush, Padilha has butted heads with MGM executives numerous times since signing on for the project. A close friend explained that the studio isn’t very supportive of his ideas, forcing the filmmaker to fight tooth and nail for every single decision.

“This is hell here,” Padilha said. “The film will be good, but I never suffered so much and do not want to do it again.”

Are you excited about the Robocop remake? Do you think that Michael Keaton is a good addition to the cast?