Peter Weller Talks Robocop's Suit

After a special showing of Robocop, Peter Weller talked with Ain't It Cool News' Harry Knowles about a mime name Moni Yakim saved the film and helped him figure out how to move in his cumbersome costume.
For more news and reviews, keep checking in with AintItCool.com
Follow Harry on Twitter at / headgeek666
Music courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

[@phantomcollector1976]

ROBOCOP IS ONE OF THE GREATEST FILMS OF ALL TIME

[@chadlieb2437]

phantom collector easily the most important piece of political satire in the last 40 years. it's crazy that Verhoven predicted our current social/political/economic situation so accurately.

[@bumfricker2487]

>one of

[@seanmccafferty3189]

My favourite film of all time. I've seen it countless times, yet it still never ceases to entertain me. The 2014 remake could have been so good, but was a total abortion. Rumours are there's a direct sequel to the original in the works. I'd like to see how that pans out, but I'll always have the original, and, to a lesser extent, Robocop 2. :)

[@steveknight8046]

Amen Brother! I was 6 when i first watched it. Still love it to this day. My favourite film ever and amazing sound track!

[@HellBrYnger]

it's called a "classic"

[@slyguythreeonetwonine3172]

Rest in Peace Orion. Thanks for two of the greatest movies of all time: *The Terminator and Robocop.*

[@ironsmithstudios3973]

@Robert Pierson Robocop was in 1987, not 1984, however Peter was in Buckaroo Banzai in 1984 which is a classic

[@edmontonboy99]

Ironsmith Studios Did he even mention the years those two movies came out?

[@umbrellau8381]

Arnold was supposed to be Murphy.. but he was too big for the suit

[@jcoptimus]

Orion was also behind UHF. Another classic.

[@The_Blue_Otaku]

True

[@KLUNKET]

I met Peter Weller at a convention some years back- My friend and I had a vendors table and came in to set up before the event was opened to the public... Peter came in and chose the table right next to us to sign autographs. He talked with us, told us stories, treated us like we were friends of his. He's a really nice guy. When I was doing the vendors business with my friend Mike, I met a few other actors and so forth, but none quite as nice.

[@jayjay53313]

Did he mention any intention to reprise his Robocop role in possible Robocop 4? Since Robocop is half human half machine, it is possible that Murphy's human head would age like his colleagues. Peter Weller suits best.

[@KLUNKET]

Jay Son Wong He didn't mention anything like that but I wish he did!! The meeting we had with him was probably right around 8 years ago- maybe even longer. He mostly talked about some current things he had been working on at that time.

[@jayjay53313]

KLUNKET, thank. Yeah, most of us would want everyone from original robocop to reprise their roles in a sequel.

[@christopherthrawn1333]

KLUNKET Actors back appreciate the movie goers than today's loser actors.

[@beeman2075]

KLUNKET, I appreciate that your comment is 3 years old, but I was glad to have read your mention that Peter was a really nice guy to meet and talk to. Robocop is a classic 80's movie, and Peter's portrayal went a long way towards making the character as iconic as it is.

[@kespec]

His voice hasn't changed a bit, your move creep

[@paynekiller70]

Robocop is a classic and never gets old. Peter Weller was easily the best Robocop and he's the kind of actor who can shine even in a bad movie. In the words of Bob Morton " I fucking love that guy".

[@porko882]

its still a great movie, I didn't hate the remake but it completely missed the tone and point of the original, its supposed to be satire and almost a dark comedy.

[@zwenkwiel816]

@@porko882 also no gore, excessive violence is such an iconic part of robocop, I mean ED-209 shooting that dude in the board room that shit's classic.... I did hate the remake btw, hate it with a burning passion XD

[@TheDennys21]

@@zwenkwiel816 reboot Robocop doesn't even look like the original, more like Batman.

[@DarsiPadilla]

@@TheDennys21 the ideas of the reboot could have made more sense by having the story set in Delta City, decades after the events of the original film.

[@thebl4ckd0g]

I love that all these years later - Peter Weller still has this great memory of things that happened long ago. But he's still such a great actor to this day. :)

[@FreePxppie]

Someone in the far distance: “I’d buy that for a dollar”

[@JoeStuffzAlt]

I never thought Robocop as a monster, but hearing this, he indeed acts like a classic monster that's on the side of law. The slow movement is intimidating and suggests he's powerful.

[@dragonniz]

PRIME DIRECTIVES DIRECTIVE 1: SERVE THE PUBLIC TRUST DIRECTIVE 2: PROTECT THE INNOCENT DIRECTIVE 3: UPHOLD THE LAW DIRECTIVE 4: [ CLASSIFIED ]

[@matthewnugent9094]

Robocop was the greatest movie of all time. I love the original uncut version. The blood and gore was awesome.

[@Youkai_Andres]

RoboCop was orignally rated " X " for the extreme violence and gore. More than a "simply" R and this is so great! hahaha! :D

[@gsxerwhite]

I remember reading about the effects in Fangoria. Cool times

[@toadalthug4055]

9 year old me would agree with you!

[@areasevenpro]

Living proof that Peter Weller's RoboCop has a soul - something that no other version will have.

[@jesse_cole]

That neckbeard is the neckbeard of all neckbeards.

[@marceloleitedossantos9836]

Thanks Peter for makes a part of my childhood when you were the RoboCop.

[@ian2057]

Peter Weller made the case for AI art assets years before anyone was worried about it by basically explaining that no art is made without ripping off someone else's art. Bless

[@thedarkknight2221]

My god! I would lose my goddamn mind if it took my that long to get in that suit. Now we have cosplayers who can make screen accurate outfits and put them on themselves in les than half the time.

[@TheSleepyRanger]

Well I'm guessing they didn't have the miracle that is eva foam back then.

[@Hyperion5182]

@@TheSleepyRanger They did not. And EVA foam Can not capture that look. The gleaming metal of the suit.

[@DanielHousman]

Yes, wish Weller had worked more often the last 20 years, he's always giving you something authentic. re the description at the top, Moni Yakim was a mime, yes -- excellent and deeply trained-- but also he's been the head movement teacher at Juilliard for decades, taught some of the finest actors working to bring physicality into their work, to act with the body. There'll be a documentary about him at some point; some filmmakers started one. Wonderful talented man of the theatre.

[@Latexghost]

Thank you for sticking it out and making Alex Murphy the juggernut he is today.Made my childhood.

[@Johnston212]

Thinking back, I think that his performance is kind of defining for how robots and cyborgs move. Always an element of something artificial and inorganic. Now that we have progressed technologically, we are changing that, but it's still iconic.

[@KRS2000]

The language he uses (not the curse words, although I've never heard him swear until I saw this), the references to everything that film history and before film had in common, and all of his knowledge. I can now see and understand why this man has a doctorate. If we do get the supposed sequel Robocop Returns, I just hope he still has it in him to do what did in the two movies. Nobody could do what he did.

[@Rob-gs8lq]

Peter Weller is such a great storyteller, he was brilliant in Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities "The Viewing". His performance in The Viewing was so captivating that when the story reached its climax, it felt a little short. I was left wanting more from this universe Panos Cosmatos created.

[@paul10018]

Robocop was the only movie that I ever instantly rewound and watched over again. Brilliant.

[@thechaosgods]

Robocop is a legend of a film and was glad to see this little nod to a film great

[@anonymousanonymous5732]

Met him at fanexpo. I remember being like, "N-nice to meet you Mr. Weller",. and he turns his head and is like "Thats DOCTOR Weller to you." The man had been getting his doctorate in history. Such an amazing experience and he's such a smart, funny guy. A true beauty.

[@studiomogura]

Met Peter Weller on the set of Cat Chaser as a kid. Was an extra and it was right after Robocop so he was huge and it was such a crazy experience. Very cool dude. Have the picture somewhere.

[@Barnaclebeard]

God I love listening to Peter Weller. So underutilized, he's a genius.

[@Urasims]

I could listen to this guy all day.

[@Enkarashaddam]

The very first thing I heard in my mind looking at that thumbnail "your move, creep"

[@sperch3d]

What is it with this guy?! I can just listen to him speak for hours and hours on end... When I found out he also has a PhD in Art history I totally became a huge fan...

[@tristanbackup2536]

I can easily see him becoming a director in his twilight years.

[@mkhuselimazungula6345]

Ever look into a guys face and get a sudden blast of nostalgia?

[@superdutyzack]

I feel like there aren’t too many actors now days that have such a cool/chilling voice.

[@TheBurning1981]

Peter Weller is awesome!

[@Umtree]

He did a great job. Thank you for creating the most bad ass movie my little 7 year old mind couldn’t handle at the time. Helped mold me into who I am today. 😢

[@EternalRoman]

Imagine going camping with a bunch of friends and family, with Peter Weller among them, the campfire stories at night with him would be so freaking cool.

[@RedQueenCreative_Roxie]

Peter Weller is a well-learned and very keen guy!

[@adamjw2301]

I could listen to him all day haha 😃

[@DEMONX212]

Now I understand the newer Robocop movie. That was supposed to be the movement of the original Robocop. Fast and fluent = liquid. WOW... shine 's a brighter light on the film! By the way, the latest Robocop game is AWESOME! Finally a Robocop game you can not only be the justice serving machine, but you can explore the once human logistics known as Alex Murphy!!

[@dimitrisbam5640]

The movement is what I liked the most when I watched the movie as a kid...at school we all mimicked robocop and how he moved

[@darthXreven]

Moral of the story, even if under a deadline, it pays to let your actors train for the harder stuff as needed otherwise it can tank the whole thing..... Peter Weller is awesome, great voice, great actor...always fun in whatever he does....

[@oldboy3813]

We need Peter Weller back for Neill Blomkamp's: Robocop Returns!

[@smithwesson1896]

Neil isn't directing it anymore but the movie is still being made

[@GhostOfSnuffles]

Robocop is basically a corpse being puppeteered by a machine, it's clunky movement makes perfect sense.

[@davonneruffin3766]

Thank you Peter weller ur the best!!!

[@bassimprovjams3772]

The real Murphy!! Robocop was my favorite movie as a child!! Next to Bloodsport! “I’ll buy that for a dollar”

[@VenusHeadTrap2]

I am in awe of this man

[@macklee6837]

Great talk! Well give the man a hand!

[@everardogonzalez7436]

Robocop is one of if not the greatest movie ever made.

[@hillncer1]

underrated actor. but epic work he has done once. except Robocop i think theres nothing much rated movies of Peter weller

[@kieranl5249]

hillncer1 he had a real good performance in Naked Lunch

[@aaronvenia6193]

He was good in 24 that one season, and in Star Trek into Darkness.

[@aaronvenia6193]

but, yeah...

[@RoboBoddicker]

Buckaroo fuckin' Banzai man!

[@NEWmr180787]

He was pretty good in Screamers too.

[@alexashton21]

Watching Robocop right now. How he does the mechanical motions is awesome. This movie came out when i was a yr old and its still one of my favorite movies, even the sequels. I watch it at least once a yr, along with the Alien franchise, terminater, and star wars. I first sarted watching Leviathan, never seen it before. Then i seen Peter Weller was in it and i had to watch Robocop. Still can't get over Red Foreman being the main bad guy lol.

[@aquilesguerrero5405]

Peter weller es el mejor y será SIEMPRE el mejor actor que interprete a ROBOCOP

[@StayPuft80]

Wow, whats that in the background I first thought it was Gwildor from the film Masters of the Universe

[@dman3438]

Lee Howling lmfao omg

[@198634]

Hahahaha !!!! Epic comment bro !!!

[@sliderx1897]

hes looking for the key

[@Surgicaldamage]

The energy that fans hope for. Right here.

[@mauriciomorais7818]

Who let the O B E S E O R A N G U T A N in the theater?

[@Castlevi3w]

hahahaha

[@sp0rkenste1n46]

Peter Weller appeared in and directed episodes of two of my favorite shows: Dexter and Sons of Anarchy. He was awesome as the voice of Batman in The Dark Knight Returns animated movie too.

[@TUBEDIGGA]

I’ve worn a robo suit many times at science fiction expos in the 90s for Jason Joiner from Showmasters. I had the movements down to a tee and was only 15 at the time. It was very uncomfortable in several places. The back of the knee / knee pit used to get randomly pinched between the calf piece and the hamstring/ back of the thigh section. This was due to me being a little short for the particular suit as it was a stunt suit from the movie. I got a bit taller over the next couple of years as I was still growing which helped! The rubber under suit got extremely hot and you had to keep hydrated at all times, or when convenient. The feet were also pretty uncomfortable. They were trainers inside the neoprene foam material and this was covered by the robo feet which were a two part hinged piece. For some reason they used to pinch my ankle bone and after a while this got uncomfortable. But I tolerated it as I was totally obsessed with the movie and so grateful to have got the opportunity to get close to it in this way. It was such fun to walk around as my hero. I used to get a real powerful buzz from it as I immersed myself in the character. I didn’t just walk around like it was a joke, I got into it and tried to make it look as real as possible. Brilliant experience in my youth.

[@Alhawaii1]

This dudes voice is 🙌🏻

[@SleepyDroid]

so weird that Peter Weller isn't voicing more video games.

[@langbo9999]

Spoiler alert Robocop in mortal kombat 11.

[@SleepyDroid]

@@langbo9999 yeah i saw that even got his likeness and of course his voice.

[@SleepyDroid]

@@langbo9999now voice the new robocop game so awesome.

[@GeorgeTaylor-ux7bq]

Amazing interview

[@shadowdancer5330]

We need RoboCop more than ever now.

[@christophersmith8272]

I wonder has he played himself in Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath??

[@chaddesrosiers1107]

This was cool somehow I had never hard Peter talk about this aspect of Robocop. It makes things much clearer for me about what he was doing with the character, he is right Robo is the monster the golum. I remember watching this around 12-13 years old and the part that always got me was the news report scene with Robo talking to the school kids. Stay out of trouble. Gave me chills. He is your protector until you cross the line. lol One of the greatest physical performances of all time.

[@peanutmansemporiumofrandom7472]

03:20 the best part of this interview. It never gets old haha

[@MrAntennaBall]

It must be fun to sit in Weller's history class.

[@woodman4728]

I love how he keeps talking even when that goblin in the wheelchair tries to interject

[@Castlevi3w]

Yeah, major cringe lol

[@bossmaine601]

🤣🤣🤣goblin😂😂😂

[@shadowproductions969]

That guy in the wheelchair seemed like the film history instructor. Peter literally asks Harry his opinion a few times.

[@crankfastle8146]

Sex offender Goblin at that!

[@MelStaub]

Coming from the anon with an anime dp.

[@wbproart3783]

He is the Best Robo-Cop...

[@peejay4606]

Peter seems like a great guy

[@Graftanker98]

Such a classic movie

[@happyhammer1]

Peter Weller is also an expert of Roman and renaissance art.

[@orest395]

Imagine getting a picture with Peter and Arnold

[@amigoyiu724]

thank you ,u a classic, robocop is my memory ❤

[@Shadowfynx]

Great speaker really interesting.

[@johnnygoodman2003]

I love this story.

[@DrNickRiveria]

interesting side note dude in the wheel chair was the guy in the Ed 209 suit in the original movie

[@victorcisneros.1196]

Nuestro verdadero. RoboCop! Te queremos🇲🇽

[@R0gue0ne]

The guy knows his art/trade! wow.

[@_Only_Zuul]

he could play robocop again. age doesn't matter for robocop...

[@jugglingbeast]

7:03 Peter still got the Robocop moves.

[@davesworld7961]

It sounds like the new Robocop movie suit meets the criteria of the original intent but the end result isn't as epic as the old Robocop.

[@anthonytromp6265]

RoboCop was a hell of a movie .

[@fratersanguinous9243]

Love how no one knows who the fuck Harry Knowles is.

[@AvengerII]

Is it a surprise to you? When is the last time you've heard ANYBODY talk about AICN? How many people remember it fondly? Fame is fleeing. Internet fame literally gets measured in seconds unless you work at it and you tend to be positive in your outlook. Be negative for too long and come off as a hypocrite to enough people, they'll leave! A lot of people left the AICN website (readers, columnists, the guys who started on that site with Harry) because they got fed up with the way it devolved into stories about the founder's wet dreams and the hate he had for certain celebrities. He also talked a bit too much about the "cool free stuff" the studios were giving him. It was like reading the diary of an outsider geek kid who had it in for the popular kids. It was adolescent stuff but this guy was in his mid-20s/early 30s when he wrote these things and it was kind of sad. For a while, he had a bully pulpit and it went to his head. The funny thing is that it was his own behavior that turned off a bunch of his fans and people who went to visit the site. It got very negative quickly and that was a turn-off for many people.

[@MousePotato]

I'm so looking forward to the new Rococop Game coming out next year. Robocop: Rogue City.

[@MikeGoesBadaBoom]

Peter Weller is the man.

[@stepanserdyuk4589]

A bit of trivia: In Russian, the emperor Ivan IV isn't called "the Terrible". The direct translation is more like "menacing, yet epic". It's like a force of nature, like a contained storm.

[@luner5775]

He also voiced an older Batman in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns.

[@stan690]

I never realised that any actors had such a deep knowledge of the historical and technical side of movie making. I always put that at the feet of the directors. Peter Weller speaks as an engineer would. He knows the evolutionary history of the acting arts. I know nothing of such things and never took an interest until I heard him speak in this video. I could listen to a lot more of it from him. I wonder what his feelings are towards the remake. Perhaps there is a video somewhere in which he gives his views. Personally, I liked it but for very different reasons as to why I liked (fucking loved!) the original.

[@ryiin]

He was an awesome Batman aswell.

[@poindextertunes]

Man talk about a charismatic guy sheesh Weller is one of the 🐐s

[@johncholmes643]

Could you imagine life without *ROBOCOP* ?

[@dafyddroberts6176]

I love this guy

[@Ycjedi]

Cool video. I'd love to see him talk about the Robocop 2 production fiasco and his thoughts on the trainwreck it became.

[@DogDog173]

7:07 the iconic way he turns!!!

[@WulfRyder]

I just realized peter weller played a dirty cop in Dexter, I’m real mad I didn’t recognize him but he literally played the villain lmao

[@Idioot1337]

my subwoofer loved this clip ...

[@timoweber7815]

Really good American english language for german guy. I love Peter Weller🦾🦾

[@mavismorely3305]

guy in wheelchair is nodding like he knows every single thing peter weller is talking about. "I had this dream last night..." Guy nods. "I've never told this story before but ..." Guy nods.

[@dman3438]

Mavis Morely lol

[@GmanGlover]

An annoying amount of smug is beaming off his nodding head!

[@crombajaa]

The only one and Real Robocop!

[@kjeldlarsen912]

Great actor

[@morbidangel2424]

Not forget screamers he was great in that

[@KypherBlue]

He's lucky he had Rob Bottin and his crew make such a masterful suit. It reminds me of the reason Jaws became such a wonderful film. Take the beautiful design and incredible talent and turn it into gold. He just needs to stop banging on the suit. It's what helped his performance become one for the ages.

[@thefatman69dude]

Met him years ago at a con and man he was so damn cool and nice and just awesome to talk to.

[@penetratorr]

Peter Weller was amazing as Robocop. One and only just like Robert Patrick as T-1000. This two role proofs that old actors give's a lot more to audience than now. Shame they are all quite old now and they can't come back to this role anymore. The new Robocop was shit start from scenario finished at main character Murphy/Robocop. Im 37 now. I was a kid when I was first seen the "Robocop" but I watched this movia at least two times per year since then and I still amazed about the Peter movement as the machine... Just amazing.

[@eldarhighelfhealermiriella7653]

"The FOKING SUIT DOSEN?T WOOORK!"