It hardly seems like a month can pass by without some sort of out of left field news popping up regarding the upcoming RoboCop reboot. This is a remake that should be easy to file away as a bad idea, the original worked despite it’s premise because of Verhoeven and everything else in the franchise after that has been a miss on one level or another.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t at least trying to give us an enjoyable film next year, and today’s casting shuffle news seems to indicate that at least some one really cares about this project. Secret British badass Hugh Laurie was in line to play the CEO of OmniCorp until he wasn’t, so the film replaces Dr. House with a damn Batman, Variety reports:

Michael Keaton has been tapped to play the villain, Raymond Sellars, in the “RoboCop” reboot for MGM and Sony… The Sellars character is the CEO of the corporation that builds RoboCop, played by Joel Kinnaman. The film, described as a “reimagining” of the 1987 Paul Verhoeven pic, is scheduled to begin shooting next month.

As much as Hugh Laurie was an exciting choice for the role originally, Keaton is easily ten times more intriguing. He has a manic energy that can really bring something fun to the head of the ever-present OmniCorp. You can even gauge from the actors connected to the role that the character is not meant to be a two-dimensional prick, but perhaps a character with some interesting perspective.

This film once again has us nodding our head in approval at the choices it has made in pre-production, let us hope that good mojo translates to the production phase that is set to begin soon.

The original Total Recall is a classic in most senses of the word. Paul Verhoeven’s original film might have taken liberties with the source material, but it exceeded as a sci-fi action extravaganza. The remake hopes to capitalizes on the original film’s name brand, while adapting a story more close to the Philip K. Dick story that inspired both films.

In most of the marketing thus far we have seen hints of familiarity with the 80’s classic, but this new trailer all pretense seems to have been shed. Even though the film is purported to be a more faithful adaptation, the film clearly is taking a lot of its cues from the previous movie.

Even though there are many more parallels exposed in this new trailer, the movie still looks like a slick and handsome sci-fi actioner. The cast is beyond solid, we know the story is a stand out, and the effects work looks to be as competent as you could ask for. Even if Total Recall doesn’t turn into a classic, the trailer suggests it will at least be an adequate summer adventure.

You can check out the full trailer after the jump, and if it sells you, Total Recall hits cinemas later this summer.

It was hard to get behind the RoboCop reboot, it was passed around between a few good creative people and eventually landed in the hands of Jose Padilha who is a relatively unknown entity here in the states. However, once the ball started rolling with the cast the project has been gaining momentum.

We already told you about a few nice cast additions last week, which brings the supporting cast up to Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson and Abbie Cornish who join the solid Joel Kinnaman in the film. Already we have a solid cast with some geek cred and plenty of acting chops.

Things get much better though, The Hollywood Reporter has announced who will play one of the key villain roles in the movie:

Hugh Laurie is in negotiations to play the villain in Robocop, MGM and Sony’s remake of the classic 1987 sci-fi action movie… Laurie will play the evil and ultra-rich CEO of Omnicorp, the company that makes Robocop

Dr. House himself! Hugh Laurie is a fantastic actor and will really bring a lot to the table as a swarmy CEO who looks to use RoboCop for his own nefarious reasons. One other aspect of bringing in Laurie to the cast that evokes a lot of excitement is that this news might be another clue that the satirical nature of the original is not going to be left by the wayside.

The impending RoboCop remake is in an odd place. It is the perfect kind of pulpy, popular franchise that should be remade, but the original holds such a specific and dear place in the hearts of fans that it is up against a lot of fan distrust.

One way they can help assuage fan worries is to cast the film well. That is well underway as recently the movie has added the always game Samuel L. Jackson to play a prominent TV figure in the film. Those familiar with the original RoboCop know that Paul Verhoven used TV as a great source of satire that helped give the film it’s edge.

Bringing in a man like Sam Jackson for a role like that seems to infer that this new film might not stray that far from one of the originals most iconic aspects. Jackson also joins previously cast Gary Oldman has the geek cred for the film, as both have been very good in numerous geek level properties.

In addition to the Jackson casting, Deadline is also reporting that the female lead has been found, Abbie Cornish. The lovely Ms. Cornish is playing RoboCop’s wife, who believes herself to be a widow once Murphy gets all robo-fied. This could be a very interesting direction the film can take, as Murphy’s wife had been little more than window dressing in the first film. By describing the character as a female lead it is clear we will see much more of that awkward relationship status. It’s complicated indeed.

Stay tuned for more updates on this every increasingly interesting remake here on The Flickcast.

There are few stories that have a more interesting life span than Little Shop of Horrors. Beginning it’s life as a low-level B horror film in the 60’s it has managed to gain increasing popularity by bouncing back and forth between screen adaptations and broadway musicals ever since.

Considering the last popular version of the tale was a Broadway revival, it seems like it is time to bring it back to the big screen, and according to the LA Times, some people agree:

Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Warner Bros. are in talks for a movie remake of “Little Shop of Horrors”  — with the help of some Broadway heavyweights behind the scenes. In addition to developing the film, Gordon-Levitt could star as Seymour, the lonely, lovable florist’s assistant who raises a giant alien plant motivated by sarcasm, song and human blood.

Now most of you probably hold the 80’s film starting Rick Moranis and Steve Martin in high regard, and think that this is just another in a long line of needless re-makes. For this particular tale I have to disagree, a new telling with an actor as talented as Joseph Gorodn-Levitt is exactly the next logical step for this story.

Of course that said, we all should pray we get a mostly practical Audrey 2.