Sam Esmail's Mr. Robot has, undoubtedly, been one of the best new TV series in recent memory.

Blending '70s paranoia thrillers with modern influences, Mr. Robot is easily the most prescient and relevant shows on TV today and Sam Esmail has made a name for himself as one of the sharpest and most insightful writers working.

In other words, we can't think of a better person to take on an update of Fritz Lang's 1927 sci-fi progenitor, Metropolis. The original film was - at the time - the most expensive ever made and it looks like Esmail's miniseries will be pretty much on the same level as Westworld.

THR reports that Universal Cable Productions, the studio behind the series, is putting up $10 million per episode. Although USA Network is the most likely option for the series, there's nothing to say that it won't be shopped out to the likes of Netflix, Hulu or even HBO.

THR also reports that Esmail's take on the much-loved classic will be largely faithful, taking in the idea of a futuristic society ruled by industrialists and lower rungs of society forced to work to service them.

As you can expect, this is a long, long way away from our screens as Esmail is currently devoting all of his time to the next season of Mr. Robot and, most likely, Metropolis won't see any movement until Mr. Robot finishes. The word is that that series will run for two more seasons, after which time Esmail will bring it to a close and work will begin on Metropolis. So, realistically, it could be another three or four years before we see this.

Nevertheless, it's one of the most exciting TV shows we've heard about and considering Westworld was something of a disappointment, here's hoping Metropolis can take a well-loved sci-fi classic and make it work on TV.

 

Via THR