RoboCop 2
(1990)
R | 117 mins | Science fiction | 22 June 1990
Directors:
Irvin Kershner, Conrad E. PalmisanoWriters:
Frank Miller, Walon GreenProducer:
Jon DavisonCinematographer:
Mark IrwinEditors:
Deborah Zeitman, Lee Smith , Armen MinasianProduction Designer:
Peter JamisonRoboCop 2 is the sequel to 1987’s successful RoboCop (see entry). Lead actors Peter Weller and Nancy Allen returned for their roles as “RoboCop” and his police partner “Anne Lewis.” Supporting actors Daniel O’Herlihy and Felton Perry reprised their roles as the "Old Man,” the head of Omni Consumer Products (OPC), and his right hand man, “Donald Johnson,” while Robert Do’Qui also returned as “Sgt. Reed.”
Three weeks after RoboCop opened in Jul 1987 to critical and public acclaim, Orion Pictures announced plans for a sequel. The 6 Aug 1987 HR reported that the sequel would be “funnier, more satirical, and less violent.” Orion did not have a script or director yet, but hoped to begin production in late fall 1987.
Months later, the 30 Mar 1989 LAHExam reported that actor Peter Weller was not willing to return to the title role and Orion was looking for a replacement. However, Weller later agreed to star in the sequel. Promotional materials in AMPAS library files indicate that the actor worked for six months with New York mime coach Moni Yakim, learning body language that would be “mechanical yet graceful and expressive” for RoboCop’s movements.
Tim Hunter was set to direct the sequel, the 28 May 1989 LAT reported, but he was soon replaced by veteran director Irvin Kershner, according to the 2 Jun 1989 LAT.
Acclaimed comic book writer Frank Miller, best known at the time for the graphic novel Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, devised the story and made his screenwriting debut, co-writing with Walon Green. Miller told the ...
RoboCop 2 is the sequel to 1987’s successful RoboCop (see entry). Lead actors Peter Weller and Nancy Allen returned for their roles as “RoboCop” and his police partner “Anne Lewis.” Supporting actors Daniel O’Herlihy and Felton Perry reprised their roles as the "Old Man,” the head of Omni Consumer Products (OPC), and his right hand man, “Donald Johnson,” while Robert Do’Qui also returned as “Sgt. Reed.”
Three weeks after RoboCop opened in Jul 1987 to critical and public acclaim, Orion Pictures announced plans for a sequel. The 6 Aug 1987 HR reported that the sequel would be “funnier, more satirical, and less violent.” Orion did not have a script or director yet, but hoped to begin production in late fall 1987.
Months later, the 30 Mar 1989 LAHExam reported that actor Peter Weller was not willing to return to the title role and Orion was looking for a replacement. However, Weller later agreed to star in the sequel. Promotional materials in AMPAS library files indicate that the actor worked for six months with New York mime coach Moni Yakim, learning body language that would be “mechanical yet graceful and expressive” for RoboCop’s movements.
Tim Hunter was set to direct the sequel, the 28 May 1989 LAT reported, but he was soon replaced by veteran director Irvin Kershner, according to the 2 Jun 1989 LAT.
Acclaimed comic book writer Frank Miller, best known at the time for the graphic novel Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, devised the story and made his screenwriting debut, co-writing with Walon Green. Miller told the 10 - 17 Oct 1990 issue of Time Out (London) that he wrote eight drafts of the script and was busy rewriting scenes on the set, with actors sometimes getting new lines ten minutes before filming. As a result of the last-minute script changes, Miller noted that several plot points were never fully developed, including “RoboCop’s” relationship with his wife, and the effect that the drug, “Nuke,” had on its users. Miller also had an unbilled cameo in the movie as the scientist devising a new formula for Nuke.
Principal photography began on 13 Jul 1989 in Houston, TX, according to a 13 Oct 1989 DV production chart. Although Dallas, TX, was used for locations on the first film, Houston was selected for the sequel because it combined industrial buildings with a futuristic skyline, according to promotional materials. The Wortham Theater Center was used for the exterior of the futuristic “Civic Centrum,” while the George Brown Convention Center was used for the interiors. The abandoned Jefferson Davis Hospital served as “Cain’s” laboratory, and the Cullen Center was used for the OPC offices. The film had a three-month shooting schedule, according to Time Out. The 9 Apr 1990 DV reported that Irvin Kershner finished the shoot five days ahead of schedule.
RoboCop 2 was budgeted at $25-30 million, based on estimates from the 11 Jun 1990 People magazine and the 22 Jun 1990 DV, respectively. The 27 Oct 1989 HR reported the production contributed $8 million to the Texas economy, making it the second largest production ever filmed in the state at that time.
RoboCop 2 opened 22 Jun 1990 on 1,768 screens, grossing $25.8 million in its first ten days of release, according to the Aug 1990 Box. Although producers opted for the simple title of RoboCop 2, several other titles were considered. The 13 Mar 1988 LAT reported that Orion had registered the title RoboCop II: This Cyborg Is for Hire with the MPAA. The 18 Jun 1989 LAT stated that Orion had also registered RoboCop II: The Battle for Detroit and RoboCop: The Drug Wars.
In 1993, another sequel, RoboCop 3 was released, and in 2014, a remake of the original movie was produced starring actor Joel Kinnaman as “Alex Murphy/RoboCop” (see entries).
End credits state: “The Producers wish to acknowledge the following for their help: The City of Houston; Rick Ferguson; Lisa Graziano; AV Technology, Inc.; Certain material © Apple Computer, Inc. used with permission; Jordy Tollett, Director Civic Center Department; Myrias Computer Corporation; Northgate Computer Systems, Inc.; Uniden Corporation of America; Prime Time Marketing, Inc.; Larry Waterman, Proton; Location lighting & grip equipment supplied by Lee America West; Moviecam Cameras and Lenses provided by Ultravision; Cinema Truck of Texas; Joe Turnbough, Stardust Productions; Product design by Image Design, Hal Berger; Alex Pietersen; Daniel Paul; Lope de Vargas”; “Pre-recorded videotape supplied by CNN © Cable News Network, Inc. 1989. All rights reserved.”
RoboCop II: This Cyborg is for Hire
RoboCop: The Drug Wars
In the near future, the city of Detroit, Michigan, enters into an agreement with the multinational corporation, Omni Consumer Products (OCP), to operate its police force. When Detroit defaults on its $37 million debt to OCP, the corporation plans to foreclose on the city by seizing its assets and privatizing them. Mayor Kuzak accuses OCP of deliberately manipulating the city’s credit crisis, and the corporation offers no rebuttal. Meanwhile, the police force is on strike after OCP cuts salaries and cancels pensions. With just a few officers still on duty, crime runs rampant and the force becomes dependent on “RoboCop,” the powerful cyborg police officer introduced by OCP a year earlier. RoboCop was built on the shattered body of police officer Alex Murphy, using robotic parts and titanium limbs, covered with a Kevlar “skin.” He is programmed with three prime directives: serve the public trust, protect the innocent, and uphold the law. Crime is on the rise in Detroit, due to widespread use of the new designer drug, “Nuke.” A messiah-like man named Cain, who heads the cartel manufacturing Nuke, promises paradise for people who use the highly addictive narcotic. During a raid of one of Cain’s manufacturing plants, RoboCop encounters a twelve-year-old drug dealer named Hob, who reminds the officer of his son, Jimmy. RoboCop is unable to shoot the boy, allowing him to escape. Later, RoboCop is captured during a raid on Cain’s hideout. Cain and his men use electric drills and saws to cut the mechanical body into pieces, dumping the parts in front of a police station. OCP collects the parts, but is daunted by the high cost of rebuilding RoboCop. The company recently ...
In the near future, the city of Detroit, Michigan, enters into an agreement with the multinational corporation, Omni Consumer Products (OCP), to operate its police force. When Detroit defaults on its $37 million debt to OCP, the corporation plans to foreclose on the city by seizing its assets and privatizing them. Mayor Kuzak accuses OCP of deliberately manipulating the city’s credit crisis, and the corporation offers no rebuttal. Meanwhile, the police force is on strike after OCP cuts salaries and cancels pensions. With just a few officers still on duty, crime runs rampant and the force becomes dependent on “RoboCop,” the powerful cyborg police officer introduced by OCP a year earlier. RoboCop was built on the shattered body of police officer Alex Murphy, using robotic parts and titanium limbs, covered with a Kevlar “skin.” He is programmed with three prime directives: serve the public trust, protect the innocent, and uphold the law. Crime is on the rise in Detroit, due to widespread use of the new designer drug, “Nuke.” A messiah-like man named Cain, who heads the cartel manufacturing Nuke, promises paradise for people who use the highly addictive narcotic. During a raid of one of Cain’s manufacturing plants, RoboCop encounters a twelve-year-old drug dealer named Hob, who reminds the officer of his son, Jimmy. RoboCop is unable to shoot the boy, allowing him to escape. Later, RoboCop is captured during a raid on Cain’s hideout. Cain and his men use electric drills and saws to cut the mechanical body into pieces, dumping the parts in front of a police station. OCP collects the parts, but is daunted by the high cost of rebuilding RoboCop. The company recently spent $19 million developing “RoboCop 2,” an updated, larger, more heavily armed version of the cyborg, but the prototypes have all malfunctioned, either killing innocents or themselves during testing. OCP hires psychologist Dr. Juliette Faxx to head the new “attitude adjustment team” to help find ideal subjects for transformation into RoboCops. Faxx deduces that Alex Murphy succeeded as the original RoboCop because he had a fierce sense of duty, while the men used for RoboCop 2 have had emotional problems and consequently could not be controlled. Faxx oversees the reconstruction of the original RoboCop, programming him with more than 250 new directives, which include being nicer to people and trying to negotiate with criminals before using his weapons. When RoboCop returns to duty, he is more friendly, positive, and outgoing. However, when called into action, his new programming prevents him from capturing the criminals. Doctors at the police station determine that the new directives conflict with each other, effectively stopping him from doing his job. RoboCop goes to a power transformer, exposes himself to high voltage electricity, and short circuits. When he revives, his system defaults to its original programming. RoboCop raids the factory where Cain is sampling a new formula for Nuke. The drug lord escapes in a truck and runs over the cyborg, but RoboCop remains unscathed and wrecks the vehicle. While Cain is hospitalized, Dr. Faxx believes his addiction to Nuke would make him easy to control, and harvests his brain and spinal cord for use in RoboCop 2. Once Cain begins life as a cyborg, Faxx promises to keep him supplied with Nuke, provided he follows instructions. Presuming their leader is dead, young Hob partners with Cain’s girl friend, Angie, in taking control of the drug syndicate. Hob meets with Mayor Kuzak, offering him $50 million to repay the city’s debt to OCP, providing he end his war on crime and narcotics. RoboCop 2 suddenly appears and opens fire, killing many. Although he reveals his true identity to Angie, his programming malfunctions and he kills her. The original RoboCop arrives to find Hob dying from gunshot wounds and the boy tells him that Cain is the new RoboCop. OCP takes over the city and promises a better life for residents. They move the city government to a new high-rise “Civic Centrum” and announce plans to demolish most of the existing structures, replacing them with skyscrapers. Mayor Kuzak criticizes the plan, saying there will be no neighborhoods in this new city and no elected officials. OCP counters that people can buy stock in the company and own a piece of the city. The corporation then unveils RoboCop 2, announcing plans to manufacture the cyborgs in Detroit for sale around the world. Holding up a canister of Nuke, the OCP chief executive officer, known as the “Old Man,” promises to use RoboCop 2 to rid the city of the drug. However, RoboCop 2 is still addicted to Nuke and attempts to grab the canister. Dr. Faxx tries to disable RoboCop 2, but the cyborg destroys her remote control. RoboCop engages RoboCop 2 in battle and many bystanders are killed in the ensuing fight. RoboCop’s partner, Anne Lewis, rams a tank into RoboCop 2, then lures him with a canister of Nuke, which he quickly inserts into his machinery. As the drug takes effect, RoboCop attacks his enemy, removing Cain’s brain and smashing it. RoboCop 2 collapses as the original cyborg proves triumphant. OCP avoids blame for RoboCop 2 by manufacturing evidence to prove that Dr. Faxx was solely responsible for the problematic cyborg.
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