RoboCop, a iconic science fiction film, owes its existence to a visit to the set of Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner. The idea for this cult classic came to screenwriter Edward Neumeier during his time on the Blade Runner set. Similarly, Blade Runner would not have been created had it not been for Ridley Scott’s dystopian science fiction work. According to Neumeier, the idea for RoboCop came to him after spending time in the atmosphere created by Ridley Scott, examining the props Scott had prepared. After several sleepless nights and working double shifts, the stunning idea of RoboCop as a title and the image of a character in a bluish armor appeared in his mind. This character was part policeman, part robot, and exhibited a sense of wonderment towards the human race. Neumeier’s exploration of the concept delves into the questioning of human behavior, as reflected in the character of Alex Murphy who regains his lost humanity as his memories return and defy the control of the program that created him. This contrasts with the approach in Blade Runner, where replicants are implanted with foreign memories to serve as emotional safeguards and facilitate easier control of the androids. In both productions, the theme of humanity and the question of whether a machine can be considered human are essential elements.
