Michael Keaton may not be “chasing waterfalls” like he was in The Other Guys, but it’s good to see that Tim Burton’s Batman is still getting work. Keaton has signed on to play a supporting role in the RoboCop remake for MGM/Columbia Pictures.
Keaton will play Raymond Sellars, the CEO of the corporation that builds RoboCop. It was a role that Hugh Laurie was expected to play before he had to drop out of before signing on completely.
There’s been early talk that this remake could be a turkey, following this summer’s Total Recall. The original films were directed by Paul Verhoeven and both went on to attain cult status. However, those who have read the script have been less than enthusiastic about the story.
Jose Padilha, whose Elite Squad and Elite Squad 2: The Enemy Within were great, if little seen police thrillers, is making his Hollywood debut with the RoboCop remake and will likely do his best in spite of having a number of his ideas struck down by studio brass.
Hopefully his direction and a cast that includes Joel Kinnaman (from AMC’s The Killing and Safe House), Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson and Abbie Cornish will make it work in the end.
RoboCop is slated to hit theaters August 9, 2013.
