As well as not being given the chance to tackle the Alien franchise, it looks as if director Neill Blomkamp won’t be having the opportunity to handle the RoboCop franchise, too.

Previously on board to direct MGM’s RoboCop reboot – tentatively titled RoboCop Returns – Blomkamp took to Twitter to reveal that he’s now off the project.

Off Robocop. I am shooting new horror/thriller and MGM can’t wait/ need to shoot Robocop now. Excited to watch it in theaters with other fans. N

— Neill Blomkamp (@NeillBlomkamp) August 15, 2019

From what the District 9 helmer said, it looks as if MGM haven’t got enough time for him to finish the horror that he’s currently working on, and so the studio is moving on without him for its RoboCop relaunch.

The last we’d heard on RoboCop Returns was that it would be a direct sequel to Paul Verhoeven’s 1987 original movie and it that it would be based on an unused RoboCop 2 screenplay by Ed Meumier and Michael Miner.

To date, there have been four RoboCop pictures – Verhoeven’s film being followed in 1990 by the Irvin Kershner-directed RoboCop 2 and in 1993 by Fred Dekker’s RoboCop 3. Then, of course, there was the 2014 RoboCop remake from Jose Padilha.

Expect more on RoboCop Returns as we get it.