RoboCop Is Back With a New Prime Video Series From James Wan

Amazon has been diligently expanding its portfolio by exploring MGM’s extensive catalog for potential franchises, and one of its most legendary properties has finally moved into full series production. Fans of classic 1980s science fiction have much to look forward to.

The project has been in the works for years, especially following Amazon’s acquisition of MGM in 2022. That wait has now culminated in a formal series order, with a complete creative team ready to take the helm.

Prime Video has officially greenlit a new television adaptation of ‘RoboCop’, ordering eight episodes for its inaugural season. This project has been in development since Amazon’s MGM acquisition, as the streamer aims to leverage the studio’s vast library for both film and television.

The series will maintain the core premise that made the original film a cultural phenomenon. According to the official logline, a major tech corporation persuades a city to integrate a powerful robot into its police force, a robot that carries the consciousness of a cherished fallen officer.

Peter Ocko, recognized for his work on ‘Lodge 49’ and ‘Pushing Daisies,’ will serve as the writer, showrunner, and executive producer of the series. Horror icon James Wan will also join as an executive producer through his Blumhouse Atomic Monster label, alongside fellow executive producers Michael Clear and Rob Hackett.

Wan expressed his personal connection to the project during the announcement. He shared with Deadline that being a lifelong fan of ‘RoboCop’ made the opportunity to bring this world to television feel like a dream come true. He emphasized that Paul Verhoeven’s original vision remains relevant today, particularly regarding its themes of technology and corporate influence.

Ed Neumeier, co-creator and co-writer of the original 1987 film, has also joined the production as an executive producer, ensuring a direct creative link to the source material. Danielle Bozzone of Blumhouse Atomic Monster completes the executive producing team as co-executive producer.

Peter Friedlander, Amazon MGM’s head of global television, spoke about the importance of revisiting the franchise after nearly four decades of cultural significance. He described the series as a provocative reflection of society’s relationship with technology and power, praising Ocko’s vision for respecting that legacy while creating something new for contemporary audiences.

Verhoeven’s original film featured Peter Weller as Alex Murphy, a Detroit police officer who was killed in the line of duty and subsequently transformed into a cyborg enforcer by a corporation. This satirical action classic is known for its sharp commentary on privatization and corporate greed, themes that the new series will need to reinterpret for a modern audience.

This will not be the first time the franchise has ventured into television, following a short-lived series in 1994 and a 2001 live-action miniseries titled ‘RoboCop: Prime Directives,’ neither of which managed to capture the original film’s cultural impact. The franchise has also experienced mixed results with its theatrical sequels, including 1990’s ‘RoboCop 2,’ 1993’s ‘RoboCop 3,’ and the 2014 remake featuring Joel Kinnaman.

‘RoboCop’ joins a growing roster of MGM properties that Amazon is adapting into series, including the ‘Legally Blonde’ prequel ‘Elle’ and ‘Barbershop,’ both produced for Prime Video. With a strong creative team now in place and direct connections to the franchise’s original creators, this new interpretation of the cybernetic crimefighter holds significant potential to reintroduce the character to a new generation of viewers.

What are your thoughts on ‘RoboCop’ getting a new series adaptation on Prime Video? Share your opinions in the comments.