'Paul Blart: Mall Cop' Helmer Tackling 'Short Circuit' Remake

Johnny 5 is making the leap to the 21st Century

By: Brad Brevet
Published: Tuesday, October 27th 2009 at 11:48 AM

Considering several, if not most, movie bloggers are all of the same generation I am assuming a lot are like me and grew up watching the 1986 sci-fi classic Short Circuit. However, while I enjoyed the film, I don't think I will be falling in line and getting all that upset about the remake Dimension Films is putting together.

It was announced back in June that Dan Milano ("Robot Chicken") would be scripting the film as original producer David Foster told Variety, "We're bringing Number 5 into the 21st Century and taking advantage of the improvements in robotics that are so massive that robots are now performing heart surgeries in hospitals."

It seems Milano did his job as Variety now informs us Steve Carr, director of Paul Blart: Mall Cop, will direct the new Short Circuit for the studio, but there is no word on when production will begin.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop was a massive hit earlier this year, raking in over $146 million in domestic box-office as it hit just the right tone for younger audiences. The film was nothing more than a "Scooby-Doo" adventure with an overweight Mall Cop played by Kevin James instead of a talking Great Dane.

The original Short Circuit focused on a robot named Johnny 5 who was built by the military to be a highly sophisticated weapon. He develops a conscience and personality after being hit by lightning. He befriends a lonely boy and his fractured family.