Film Talk: Looking Back – Cyberpunk splendour with RoboCop
The original and still the best. Dead or alive, you’re coming with me...
Directed by Paul Verhoeven, 1987’s RoboCop reset the bar for dystopian sci-fi and cyberpunk splendour. Written by Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner, this iconic flick stars Peter Weller in the title role, along with Nancy Allen, Daniel O’Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, and Miguel Ferrer.
Set in the near future, action takes place against the backdrop of a crime-ridden Detroit, where only a combination of man and machine can uphold the law.
Neumeier conceived the idea behind RoboCop while working on the set of another seminal sci-fi film – a lovely little project known as Blade Runner. Having partnered with Miner to develop the idea further, the duo created a script which was purchased in early 1985 by producer Jon Davison on behalf of Orion Pictures.
However, finding a director to lead the project proved tricky. Reportedly, Verhoeven in fact dismissed the script twice (only reading the first few pages) due to his belief that RoboCop was simply another dumb action flick. It was only when his wife (who read the entire script) illuminated its satirical undertones to him that he finally agreed to take it on.
