New "RoboCop" sequel in the making with "District 9" helmer

"RoboCop Returns" was originally written as a sequel to the first movie, 1987's "RoboCop".

12 Jul – Four years after the last instalment of the "RoboCop" franchise hit the big screen, a fifth movie is now reported to be in the works over at MGM.

Called "RoboCop Returns", director Neill Blomkamp has been tapped to helm the new movie, which will connect directly to the first movie in the franchise and sidestepping the other three, according to Deadline.

Blomkamp made his Hollywood debut with the Oscar-nominated "District 9" in 2009. Though his follow ups, 2013's "Elysium" and 2015's "Chappie", have not been as well-received, the director still knows his way around a sci-fi setting so the upcoming "RoboCop" should be in good hands.

"The original definitely had a massive effect on me as a kid," Blomkamp said. "I loved it then and it remains a classic in the end of 20th Century sci-fi catalog, with real meaning under the surface."

"Hopefully that is something we can get closer to in making of a sequel. That is my goal here."

He also said that he was excited to be able to work with Justin Rhodes, saying, "He has added elements that are pretty awesome, to a sequel that was set in the world of Verhoeven. This is a movie I would love to watch."

Rhodes is rewriting the script that was penned by original writers Ed Neumeier and Michael Miner, who are now serving as producer and executive producer, respectively.

The script was originally written by the duo years ago as a direct sequel to the first "RoboCop" movie, released in 1987 and directed by Paul Verhoeven, but it was never adapted into a movie.

Hints on a new "RoboCop" movie being planned were first revealed by Neumeier himself in January this year, when he admitted that studio MGM was developing a movie that will sidestep the failed sequels, 1990's "RoboCop 2" and 1993's "RoboCop 3", as well as the lackluster 2014 reboot "RoboCop".

So far the only plot revealed for "RoboCop Returns" is the titular cyborg entity makes his triumphant return to fight crime and corruption as anarchy reigns and the fate of Detroit hangs in the balance.