RoboCop Reboot Star Defends PG-13 Rating

Next week's remake of RoboCop is rated PG-13...  Given that Paul Verhoeven's 1987 classic was rated R with brutal violence. The softer rating has left many wondering about the new movie's quality.

The film's star"The Killing" actor Joel Kinnaman recently spoke with Collider and explained why he thinks the more audience friendly rating works in this case:

"After seeing what we got away with with PG-13 that battle became quite irrelevant... The violence of the of the original RoboCop was so much aligned with Verhoeven’s cinematic tone and his comedic tone, and our film is carrying Jose's tone which he’s a completely different filmmaker, so the violence that we have in our movie completely makes sense in terms of who Jose is."

Will fans and critics embrace the film? We'll find out soon since the film begins an international release this week in Asia, Australia, and much of Europe ahead of its U.S. debut next Wednesday.

Joshua Zetumer was hired to write the reboot of the RoboCop franchise that now aims to explore in detail a part of the story that the classic did not--Alex Murphy's (Kinnaman) actual transition from man to machine. Gran Torino screenwriter Nick Schenk was hired to pen a new draft of the script.

 Brazilian director José Padilha is making his Hollywood debut.

Gary Oldman has been cast as Norton, the scientist who creates Robocop and finds himself torn between the ideals of the machine trying to rediscover its humanity and the callous needs of a corporation. Garcia will play a scientist who helps put together the Robocop with Oldman. Samuel L. Jackson will play Pat Novak, a charismatic media mogul and a powerful force in the future. Michael Keaton will play “the cold, sarcastic CEO of Omnicorp, Raymond Sellars, leading the group behind RoboCop’s creation. Abbie Cornish will play the role of Alex Murphy's wife who thinks she is a widow. Jennifer Ehle plays a character named Liz Kline which is new to the mythology. Jackie Earle Haley will play Maddox, the man who dispenses the military training to Robocop. Michael Kenneth Williams will play the partner of Murphy who is close with Murphy’s family. Marianne Jean-Baptiste is set to play Karen Dean, the Detroit Chief of Police Jay Baruchel  and "Dexter" co-star Aimee Garcia also star.

Marc Abraham and Eric Newman produced the film.

I was quite impressed with both the first and second trailers for the film--Fingers crossed for this one folks