Peter Weller is best known for his role as the title character in the first two RoboCop films. But before him, another renowned actor would have played the role.
Yes, right, initially, Arnold Schwarzenegger was considered for the role. Arnie and Robocop seemed like a perfect match due to his muscular physique and mechanical movements. However, producers were concerned about fitting a suit for him, so ultimately, Weller got the role.
While Schwarzenegger was considered, several other actors, including Michael Ironside, Rutger Hauer, Tom Berenger, Armand Assante, Keith Carradine, and James Remar, were also in the running. But seven other actors could have done it better if considered for real.
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Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone and Peter Weller have different acting styles. Weller’s portrayal of RoboCop was known for its blend of stoic and robotic mannerisms.
While Stallone has portrayed iconic action roles, such as Rocky Balboa and John Rambo, his approach to characters has more visible emotion and physicality. So, it is obvious to say that he would have brought his own style and tone to the film.
Dolph Lundgren
Dolph Lundgren is a super-talented action actor known for his roles, such as Ivan Drago in Rocky IV and the titular character in The Punisher.
The character of RoboCop indeed demands a unique blend of stoicism and humanity. But Lundgren’s experience and skills as an action star could make him a better choice for the role.
Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis is a versatile actor with a strong background in action films. He has portrayed iconic characters like John McClane in the Die Hard series.
Although he didn’t get to play Robocop, there’s a movie, Surrogates (2009), which deals with robots in which Willis played the character of Tom Greer. So, considering his charisma and action prowess, there’s no doubt he would have been a great choice for the role of Robocop.
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Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell is best known for playing roles in action movies like Backdraft, The Hateful Eight, Silkwood, and many more. His portrayal as a machine in the film Soldier showed his ability to portray a stoic and robotic character. This is just as similar to the requirements of a character like RoboCop.
While Robocop came much before Soldier, the actor’s performance in Soldier suggests that he could have handled the robotic aspects of RoboCop, too.
Lance Henriksen
Lance Henriksen’s portrayal of characters like Bishop in the Aliens franchise shows his ability to bring depth to roles that involve technology and humanity together.
Given his experience with such roles, he could be an excellent choice to play RoboCop. His acting chops could have blended with the required depiction of man and machine.
Mel Gibson
The Oscar-winner Mel Gibson‘s experience in the action genre makes him one of the best candidates for the iconic role.
He can switch easily between different movie genres. He can do historical epics like Braveheart, to action The Road Warrior, and even romantic comedies like What Women Want. So, there’s no doubt he could have been a suitable choice to play Robocop as well.
Jean-Claude Van Damme
Jean-Claude Van Damme could be an excellent choice to play RoboCop if considering his strong track record in action-packed roles. His past performances make him a strong candidate, which could have brought a unique interpretation to the iconic character.
Though Van Damme didn’t get to play the titular character in 1987 film, he got the opportunity to work with the original Robocop. He and Peter Weller have worked together in a 2012 film, Dragon Eyes.
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