Thursday’s press release for director José Padilha‘s latest reboot for RoboCop mark the first time the character will be introduced through the modern advancements fortified in IMAX technology since the cybernetic law enforcer was first introduced to its R-rated movie-loving audience in 1987. A lot of people still have their doubts about this one, seeing as how the latest trailer likely invokes the film’s highly criticized PG-13 look, although it is also earning some early optimism, especially since the footage was first revealed for onlookers at the San Diego Comic Con which likely grants the film’s new approach to the story a little more exciting and worth the price of a ticket than some may choose to believe.
IMAX Corporation, along with MGM. and Sony Pictures, today announced that RoboCop will be digitally re-mastered into the immersive IMAX® format and released into IMAX® theatres worldwide beginning Feb. 7.
In RoboCop, the year is 2028 and multinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at the center of robot technology. Overseas, their drones have been used by the military for years – and it’s meant billions for OmniCorp’s bottom line. Now OmniCorp wants to bring their controversial technology to the home front, and they see a golden opportunity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) – a loving husband, father and good cop doing his best to stem the tide of crime and corruption in Detroit – is critically injured in the line of duty, OmniCorp sees its chance to build a part-man, part-robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions a RoboCop in every city and even more billions for their shareholders, but they never counted on one thing: there is still a man inside the machine pursuing justice.
RoboCop is directed by Jose Padilha and stars Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, and Samuel L. Jackson, as well as Abbie Cornish, Jackie Earle Haley, Michael K. Williams, Jay Baruchel, Jennifer Ehle, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. The screenplay is by Joshua Zetumer, based on the 1987 motion picture written by Edward Neumeier & Michael Miner. The film is produced by Marc Abraham and Eric Newman, with Bill Carraro and Roger Birnbaum serving as executive producers.
Greg Foster, CEO of IMAX Entertainment and Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. said, “Jose Padilha has re-imagined this story in an exciting new way and we’re thrilled to partner with MGM and Sony to bring it to audiences worldwide in the most immersive format – IMAX.”
Rory Bruer, president of Worldwide Distribution for Sony Pictures, added, “IMAX and ‘RoboCop’ are the perfect match. What a great way to see this visceral, action-packed film.”
The IMAX release of RoboCop will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Media Remastering) technology. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
