Mike Fleming

EXCLUSIVE: I’m told that MGM is making an offer to Joel Kinnaman to play the title role in its Robocop remake. The film’s being directed by Jose Padilha, helmer of two action packed installments of Elite Squad. Strike Entertainment partners Eric Newman and Marc Abraham are producing. Josh Zetumer wrote the script.

Kinnaman, who’d take the role originated by Peter Weller in the 1987 Paul Verhoeven original, most recently turned in a memorable performance in Safe House opposite Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds. He burst on the scene in the AMC series The Killing. Before that he starred in Snabba Cash, which was directed by Safe House helmer Daniel Espinosa. Kinnaman, who’s repped by UTA and Magnolia Entertainment’s Shelley Browning, becomes the second high profile casting move made by MGM this week. The studio is in early talks with Dwayne Johnson to play Hercules.