Dan Stevens is Prime Video's new, hopefully weird RoboCop

Amazon's Prime Video is set to launch a new RoboCop series that fans of the 1987 film might find both intriguing and unsettling. The role of Alex Murphy, the Detroit police officer who becomes a cyborg law enforcer, will be portrayed by Dan Stevens, known for his versatility in roles such as Onslaught and Dexter: Requiem. Production of the series is helmed by Peter Ocko and backed by Atomic Monster, a subsidiary of Blumhouse Productions.

Stevens' emergence as the top choice for the stoic, emotionless, and unyielding RoboCop figure has generated excitement, hinting at the unique perspective the actor might bring to the role, reminiscent of the varied portrayals we've seen in other projects like Legion.

However, concerns arise about how the series will approach the original's themes of technology, identity, and corporate responsibility, especially given that the 2014 Joel Kinnaman remake didn't quite capture these elements as effectively. The 2014 iteration was deemed clunky and lumbering, and its shortcomings were exacerbated by the presence of Amazon's branding.

With Prime Video acquiring MGM in 2022, this is not the first time the streaming giant has ventured into series development with the studio. Other MGM properties like Elle, a prequel to Legally Blonde, has been given a greenlight for a second season, while titles such as Barbershop, The Magnificent Seven, Fame, and Poltergeist are currently in different stages of development.