Robot Chicken Writer to Revive ‘Short Circuit’

Published by Jeff Leins on: June 4th, 2009

Dimension Films has hired a new writer to plug away at a remake of 1986’s Short Circuit.  Stepping up to the screenwriting table is Dan Milano, creator of the show “Greg the Bunny” and a writer for the Emmy Award-winning series “Robot Chicken.”

The original told the story of Johnny Five, a robot built by the military to be a weapon, but it gained a personality after it was struck by lightning.  Johnny Five is alive.

When the reboot was announced in April 2008, the original writers, Brent Maddock and S.S. Wilson had been hired to write Johnny Five’s return to the screen.  It looks like Bob Weinstein was looking for a different take on the character now.  It’s a good replacement with talent, but can it save this idea?  According to Variety, Milano will add a “subversive edge” to the movie lacking from previous versions.  The plan is to infuse advance in technology into the lovable robot.

Producer David Foster insists Johnny’s signature look will remain true to the original.  Last year I remarked “we’ll always have a new robot with a personality, Wall-E.”  The similarities are definitely there, but the products couldn’t be more different.  Here’s what Foster had to say: “We think of Wall-E as an extended trailer for our film, because it’s the same face.” If only the creativity was the same.