"Dark City" Director Adapts Sci-Fi Classic "R.U.R." for the Big Screen

Imagine a world where robots rebel against their human creators. Sounds like something straight out of a modern sci-fi blockbuster, right? Well, this idea is actually over 100 years old! And now, it's getting a fresh look from the director who brought us "Dark City."

The Birth of "Robot"

Back in 1921, a Czech writer named Karel Čapek introduced the world to a mind-bending play called "R.U.R." (Rossum's Universal Robots). This wasn't just any old story – it was the first time anyone had used the word "robot" in science fiction. Talk about making history!

Fast forward to today, and guess who's bringing this groundbreaking tale to the big screen? None other than Alex Proyas, the mastermind behind sci-fi hits like "Dark City" and "I, Robot."

Star Power Meets Sci-Fi

Who's going to bring these century-old characters to life? The movie's nabbed some serious talent:

Mallory Jansen (you might know her from "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") is playing Helena, a brave woman who visits the robot factory to free the mechanical workers.

Anthony LaPaglia (remember him from "Without a Trace"?) is also joining the cast.

Lindsay Ferris, who worked with Proyas before in "Gods of Egypt," rounds out the main crew.

From Page to Screen

So, what's "R.U.R." all about? Picture this: a brilliant (but maybe a little crazy) scientist creates robots to do all the work humans don't want to do. Sounds great, right? Well, things go south pretty quickly when the robots decide they're not too happy with this arrangement.

The story follows Helena Glory, the leader of the "Humanity League," as she tries to free the robots from their human bosses. But her plan backfires big time, and she ends up starting a robot revolution instead!

Why It Matters Today

You might be thinking, "Why make a movie about a 100-year-old play?" Well, Proyas has a pretty good answer:

"Karel Čapek's play is about how people misuse technology," he says. "And that's even more important today. I'm excited to share this story with modern audiences."

Think about it – with all the talk about artificial intelligence and robots these days, this old story feels super relevant, doesn't it?

Lights, Camera, Action!

The "R.U.R." team isn't wasting any time. They're planning to start filming this fall in Sydney, Australia. While we don't have an exact release date yet, sci-fi fans should definitely keep their eyes peeled for more news.