After streaming giant Amazon acquired MGM Studios, it was a little unclear what active properties and projects in development would move forward. Thankfully, a new report from Deadline is giving us a better idea of what could be coming soon from that heap of high-profile IP at Amazon Studios. Some of those projects on the table include film/television incarnations of “RoboCop,” “Stargate,” “Legally Blonde,” “The Thomas Crown Affair,” “Fame,” “Barbershop,” and the iconic western “The Magnificent Seven” (a Hollywood remake of “The Seven Samurai“) that most recently had a remake that starred Denzel Washington and Chris Pratt.
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This news comes off the heels of reports that Amazon is looking to expand the “Creed” franchise for spinoffs and television, as the third film had a big opening weekend earlier this year. “Creed III” star/director Michael B. Jordan (“Rainbow Six“) was once attached to star in a new version of “The Thomas Crown Affair” with The Russo Brothers once involved as producers via AGBO. We could speculate that could end up becoming another directorial effort for Jordan if he wanted to do it himself.
A new “RoboCop” sequel/soft-reboot was previously in the works from Neill Blomkamp (“District 9“) before he ultimately exited, and MGM decided to replace him with Aussie director Abe Forsythe (“Little Monsters“). Blomkamp had attempted to coax original “RoboCop” actor Peter Weller to reprise his iconic role as Alex Murphy, a medically brain-dead cop that is transformed into a cyborg after a brutal murder in Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 satirical masterpiece commenting on America’s obsession with crime/violence. This new report claims a television series is more likely to move ahead first over the long-gestating feature film.
“Legally Blonde 3” was also already in development with writers Mindy Kaling and Dan Goor previously hired by MGM to pen the third installment with an expectation that Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Coolidge (“White Lotus“) reprising their beloved roles. Although, it’s less clear if the people involved with the third movie would be asked to participate in the potential series incarnation.
The “Stargate” film from 1994 was the brainchild of director Roland Emmerich and writing partner Dean Devlin as they were once involved with an early version of “Alien vs Predator” in the 1990s (after “Universal Soldier” was a hit) but pivoted to an original sci-fi actioner instead that spawned multiple television series with a passionate and loyal fanbase. One of those series spinoffs, “Stargate: Atlantis,” had a young Jason Momoa (“Aquaman“) among the cast before he become a big Hollywood star. A new “Stargate” feature film is said to be happening before any television projects, but a director/writer has yet to be announced.
It certainly sounds like Amazon wants to keep the wheels moving on MGM’s existing projects and add new ones alongside them. We’ll have to wait and see what actually ends up getting made, though.