Mr. Robot creator and showrunner Sam Esmail is adding another science fiction project to his resume, this time an adaptation of the seminal 1927 film Metropolis.
According to THR, Esmail has been tapped to turn the expressionist classic as a miniseries for Universal Cable Productions. The size of his role is still being negotiated, as the project is still in early development and the studio is reportedly not “aiming to launch the miniseries for another two or three years.” Currently, Esmail will work with a small writer’s room to figure out “conceptually how the movie could be adapted into an episodic series,” which could cost upwards of $10 million per episode.
Like the original film, Metropolis will take place in a future society that sees a class struggle between wealthy industrialists and lower-class, underground dwelling workers who operate the machines that power the city, and a pair of star-crossed lovers from either side that must bring the whole system down.
Metropolis will be executive produced by Esmail and his manager, Anonymous Content’s Chad Hamiltion (who’s also an EP on Mr. Robot).
Originally published December 17, 2016. Updated April 15, 2018.
