Hollywood scraping the rust off 'Robocop'

Peter Weller - the original.

In case you have not heard, the 1987 sci fi classic "Robocop" is on the long list of Hollywood movies being remade. Or rebooted. Or, in the case of a crime-fighting, half-man, half-robot, how about recycled?

José Padilha is the director attached to the project. And he thinks he's found his Alex J. Murphy, memorably portrayed in the original by Peter Weller. According to Sandy Schaefer of Screen Rant, Padilha wants Michael Fassbender, recently seen playing the young Magneto in "X-Men: First Class" as his cyber hero.

Does Fassbender like wearing helmets?

Padilha and screenwriter Josh Zetumer are reportedly nearly finished with a final version of the story, which they will present to MGM officials within a week.

Fassbender, thanks to "First Class," as well as roles in "Inglorious Basterds" and the upcoming "Prometheus," is a sought-after actor. Whether he can be persuaded to don the robo-uniform remains to be seen.