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Steven Spielberg’s Abandoned Sci-Fi Movie Is Officially Being Revived as a TV Series
Steven Spielberg’s long-stalled adaptation of *Robopocalypse* is being revived as a television series, with Ron Howard set to direct the pilot and Akiva Goldsman writing and serving as showrunner. The project brings a science-fiction story about technology turning against humanity to television, with Howard saying its themes feel increasingly relevant.
The series is based on Daniel H. Wilson’s 2011 novel, in which a powerful artificial intelligence called Archos leads technology to turn on its human creators. Spielberg had planned a film, with Drew Goddard writing and Chris Hemsworth and Anne Hathaway attached at different stages, but put it on hold in 2013 because of its anticipated cost. A later version involving Michael Bay also did not proceed; the new series is in development with Imagine Entertainment, Weed Road and Amblin Entertainment involved.
In short
- Spielberg’s abandoned film project is returning as a TV series.
- Ron Howard will direct the pilot.
- The story centres on AI turning technology against humanity.
Explained simply
Daniel H. Wilson’s 2011 novel Robopocalypse imagines a world in which Archos, a powerful artificial intelligence, causes technology to turn against the people who created it. The story explores how humans might respond when machines they rely on become a threat.
Steven Spielberg previously planned to adapt the novel as a film, with actors including Chris Hemsworth and Anne Hathaway attached at different stages. That version was put on hold in 2013 amid concerns about its expected cost, and a later attempt involving Michael Bay did not go ahead.
The story is now being developed for television by Imagine Entertainment, Weed Road and Amblin Entertainment. Its subject connects science fiction with questions about society’s growing reliance on technology.