House Star Hugh Laurie Lands
Villain Role in MGM’s RoboCop

 

Is Hugh Laurie the new Dick Jones? According to The Hollywood Reporter, the answer is at least a thematic “yes.” The site reports that Laurie has accepted the role of the unnamed evil Omnicorp CEO who bankrolls RoboCop in the new film by Jose Padilha.

If you’re unfamiliar, the original RoboCop revolved around cop Alex Murphy getting gunned down only to return as the cybernetically enhanced officer of the law. For the remake, The Killing‘s Joel Kinnaman will play Murphy/Robo, Gary Oldman the scientist who actually builds him and Samuel L. Jackson a media mogul. Abbie Cornish has also been offered the role of Murphy’s wife, but has yet to officially take the role as far as we know.

All these announcements come in advance of the beginning of shooting in September for an Aug. 9, 2013, release.