On the Scene: RoboCop

An inside look at the upcoming film.

RoboCop - We're taking a look at this science fiction action flick starring Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman. Get your first look at the upcoming film, which is in theaters and IMAX on February 12.

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RoboCop - We're taking a look at this science fiction action flick starring Samuel L. Jackson and Joel Kinnaman. Get your first look at the upcoming film, which is in theaters and IMAX on February 12.

Sam the Man - As Pat Novak, host of television talk show The Novak Element, Samuel L. Jackson uses his influence to tout the benefits of "mechanized crime control." (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Sam the Man - As Pat Novak, host of television talk show The Novak Element, Samuel L. Jackson uses his influence to tout the benefits of "mechanized crime control." (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

The Return of RoboCop - RoboCop stars Joel Kinnaman as a good cop turned part-cyborg who takes crime fighting to the extreme. Kinnaman plays Alex Murphy, a loving father and husband working hard to fight crime in Detroit. After he's critically injured in the line of duty, a giant corporation seizes on the chance to turn him into a cyborg.  (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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The Return of RoboCop - RoboCop stars Joel Kinnaman as a good cop turned part-cyborg who takes crime fighting to the extreme. Kinnaman plays Alex Murphy, a loving father and husband working hard to fight crime in Detroit. After he's critically injured in the line of duty, a giant corporation seizes on the chance to turn him into a cyborg.  (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Rogue Science - Gary Oldman plays Dr. Norton, the scientist who creates RoboCop, and Jackie Earle Haley is Rick Mattox, a military tactician who trains RoboCop. His lab was inspired by the scientist Francis Bacon. “I wanted to keep that set very sterile, rectilinear,” says Whist.  “We had a subtext reference of Francis Bacon, who was concerned with the man and the psyche trapped within the constructs of society; in Sellars’ office, he has a triptych of Bacons behind him.  That’s a very strong metaphor for the RoboCop story, so it was also our starting point." (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Rogue Science - Gary Oldman plays Dr. Norton, the scientist who creates RoboCop, and Jackie Earle Haley is Rick Mattox, a military tactician who trains RoboCop. His lab was inspired by the scientist Francis Bacon. “I wanted to keep that set very sterile, rectilinear,” says Whist.  “We had a subtext reference of Francis Bacon, who was concerned with the man and the psyche trapped within the constructs of society; in Sellars’ office, he has a triptych of Bacons behind him.  That’s a very strong metaphor for the RoboCop story, so it was also our starting point." (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Part Man, Part Superhero - The original RoboCop was one of the first films to successfully tacke the half man, half robot plotline — and it was an international success.  The movie grossed over $53 million at the box office and the legendary Roger Ebert wrote about the film, "a thriller with a difference."  Expect another box office smash! (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Part Man, Part Superhero - The original RoboCop was one of the first films to successfully tacke the half man, half robot plotline — and it was an international success.  The movie grossed over $53 million at the box office and the legendary Roger Ebert wrote about the film, "a thriller with a difference."  Expect another box office smash! (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Corporate Masters - The team at OmniCorp, a multi-billion dollar defense corporation, aims to apply their drone technology used by the military overseas to domestic law enforcement. What OmniCorp didn't count on was that behind every RoboCop is a man, who has his own ideas of justice.  (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Corporate Masters - The team at OmniCorp, a multi-billion dollar defense corporation, aims to apply their drone technology used by the military overseas to domestic law enforcement. What OmniCorp didn't count on was that behind every RoboCop is a man, who has his own ideas of justice.  (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Riding High - Based on a Kawasaki 1000, the RoboCop motorcycle was an homage to the original film, but with some key upgrades. “We modified the frame, extending the wheel base.  It’s quite a bit longer than a normal bike, because I wanted RoboCop to take a leaning forward attack position when he’s on the bike," says Whist. "He’s quite big, and the normal bike looked too small under him.  Then, we reclad the whole bike in armor, similar to the suit.  He merges with the bike when he’s riding it – it looks like one unit.  And finally, we redid all the lights and graphics, of course.” (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Riding High - Based on a Kawasaki 1000, the RoboCop motorcycle was an homage to the original film, but with some key upgrades. “We modified the frame, extending the wheel base.  It’s quite a bit longer than a normal bike, because I wanted RoboCop to take a leaning forward attack position when he’s on the bike," says Whist. "He’s quite big, and the normal bike looked too small under him.  Then, we reclad the whole bike in armor, similar to the suit.  He merges with the bike when he’s riding it – it looks like one unit.  And finally, we redid all the lights and graphics, of course.” (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Michael Keaton - Big screen veteran Michael Keaton makes his return as OmniCorp's money-hungry CEO Raymond Sellars, who will stop at nothing to boost his company's bottom line. Keaton is Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominee.   (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Michael Keaton - Big screen veteran Michael Keaton makes his return as OmniCorp's money-hungry CEO Raymond Sellars, who will stop at nothing to boost his company's bottom line. Keaton is Golden Globe, Emmy and Screen Actors Guild nominee.   (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

From Batman to RoboCop - Michael Keaton is one of the original kings of superheroes.  He is best known for his protrayal of Batman in 1989.  In RoboCop, you expect Keaton to deliver his signature Hollywood swagger.   (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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From Batman to RoboCop - Michael Keaton is one of the original kings of superheroes.  He is best known for his protrayal of Batman in 1989.  In RoboCop, you expect Keaton to deliver his signature Hollywood swagger.   (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Suit Up - The iconic RoboCop uniform from 1987 got a new look for the reboot. In the film, OmniCorp CEO Raymond Sellars demands a "more tactical" suit that is more streamlined and less stiff. To build the physical RoboCop suits, production designer Martin Whist worked with the team at Legacy Effects, one of Hollywood’s go-to sources for making visions become a reality as the creators of the Iron Man suit and other effects work. (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Suit Up - The iconic RoboCop uniform from 1987 got a new look for the reboot. In the film, OmniCorp CEO Raymond Sellars demands a "more tactical" suit that is more streamlined and less stiff. To build the physical RoboCop suits, production designer Martin Whist worked with the team at Legacy Effects, one of Hollywood’s go-to sources for making visions become a reality as the creators of the Iron Man suit and other effects work. (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Weapons of Choice - RoboCop has two main weapons: a high-powered Taser that comes out of his thigh and a gun that deploys from his forearm.  According to Whist, “when we designed the Taser...we wanted it to seem real, to have a logic to it.  It had to be a certain size – after all, it had to fit in the leg.  And then we had to figure out how it would deploy in a cool way that he could grab onto.” (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Weapons of Choice - RoboCop has two main weapons: a high-powered Taser that comes out of his thigh and a gun that deploys from his forearm.  According to Whist, “when we designed the Taser...we wanted it to seem real, to have a logic to it.  It had to be a certain size – after all, it had to fit in the leg.  And then we had to figure out how it would deploy in a cool way that he could grab onto.” (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Even Robots Need Love - Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman, who plays RoboCop, had his Hollywood breakthrough in Safe House, opposite Denzel Washington. Abbie Cornish plays Alex Murphy/RoboCop's loving wife Clara Murphy, beating out Jessica Alba and Kate Mara for the role.   (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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Even Robots Need Love - Swedish actor Joel Kinnaman, who plays RoboCop, had his Hollywood breakthrough in Safe House, opposite Denzel Washington. Abbie Cornish plays Alex Murphy/RoboCop's loving wife Clara Murphy, beating out Jessica Alba and Kate Mara for the role.   (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

From the Favelas of Brazil to Detroit's Mean Streets - RoboCop is directed by Brazilian helmer Josè Padilha, who was behind the popular Elite Squad series of films.  (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

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From the Favelas of Brazil to Detroit's Mean Streets - RoboCop is directed by Brazilian helmer Josè Padilha, who was behind the popular Elite Squad series of films.  (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)