Actor Hugh Laurie, who has been in negotiations since June to play the villainous head of the corporation that creates the eponymous cyborg policeman in Robocop (see "'House' to Play R'obocop' Villain"), has exited the production.  Some rumors suggest that the actor may have been put off by a nasty Internet review of the script for the reboot of the Robocop franchise that Jose Padilha is helming.

 

Deadline reports that MGM, which is anxious to get the reboot underway, is looking at a small group of actors that includes Clive Owen to replace Laurie.  If Owen does take the job, he will join a cast that features Joel Kinnaman in the title role along a supporting cast that includes with Gary Oldman, Samuel L. Jackson, Jackie Earle Haley, Abbey Cornish, and Jay Baruchel.