The sci-fi classic Metropolis will live again as a TV show, with the Mr. Robot creator at the helm...
Sam Esmail created something rather special when he devised Mr. Robot, and now he has been handed a difficult tough task as his reward: to mastermind a TV remake of Metropolis, the iconic 1927 movie by visionary director Fritz Lang.
The Hollywood Reporter broke the news, reporting that Mr Esmail will helm a miniseries adaptation of Lang's film for Universal Cable Productions. Esmail's exact role in proceedings - whether he will be the showrunner, a producer, a writer, a director or all of the above - is apparently "still being negotiated as the project is in the very early stage of development."
THR's report confirms that the story will stay the same. Here's how they elegantly summed up the plot:
"Like the original film, the small-screen adaptation of Metropolis will take place in a future society where wealthy industrialists rule the vast city from high-rise tower complexes, while a lower class of underground-dwelling workers toil constantly to operate the machines that provide its power. Risking everything they know, two star-crossed lovers from opposite sides of the divide must find a way to bring down the whole system."
The original film was set in the scary future year of 2026, which is now only a decade away. It's unclear if this TV take on the material with nudge the story further into the future or keep it where/when it was originally set.
A writer's room is currently being assembled for the show, and Esmail has brought his manager and Mr. Robot executive producer Chad Hamilton on board for the project.
Universal Cable Productions is apparently willing to spend a staggering $10 million on each episode. It's not yet clear which network will air the show, but USA and Syfy are the most likely members of the Universal family to get the nod. Don't expect to see Metropolis until after Mr. Robothas run its course, though. This sounds like it's still 2-3 years in the future.