RoboCop director Jose Padilha says his lack of control is “hell!”

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

When the House falls, so does the foundation…

Last week news broke that “House” star Hugh Laurie had stepped down from the villainous role in ROBOCOP he’d signed up for in June. This coming a short time after an early review of the script tore the flick a new one. Now, according to South American website Cinemacom Rapadura (via Screencrush), Padilha has described pre-production on the MGM remake as “Hell.” Not the best of signs…

Here’s what Padilha’s pal and fellow filmmaker Fernando Meirelles had to say to the publication:

“I talked to José Padilha for a week by phone. He will begin filming Robocop. He is saying that it is the worst experience. For every 10 ideas he has, 9 are cut. Whatever he wants, he has to fight. “This is hell here,” he told me. “The film will be good, but I never suffered so much and do not want to do it again.” He is bitter, but it’s a fighter.”

Sounds like a case of an international visionary getting his first taste of the Hollywood system. Will Jose adapt and persist or go back to Brazil and make movies there? I guess the success of ROBOCOP will largely determine that. Perhaps the veteran actors on set will help homey keep his cool.

ROBOCOP returns next August.

ROBOCOP’s Abbie Cornish