Back in March, we brought you the news when MGM hired Brazilian director José Padilha (Elite Squad, Elite Squad 2) to helm Robocop‘s return to the big-screen, and hired Joshua Zetumer to script the reboot of the 1987 sci-fi film.

Padilha recently spoke with Dutchwebsite Film1.nl about the forthcoming remake, and had this to say about how his version of the story will differ from the original:

“I love the sharpness and political tone of RoboCop, and I think that such a film is now urgently needed. But I will not repeat what Verhoeven has done so clearly and strongly. Instead I try to make a film that will address topics that Verhoeven untreated. If you are a man changes into a robot, how do you do that? What is the difference between humans and robots developed? What is free will? What does it mean to lose your free will? Those are the issues that I think.”

Speaking with Brazilian site g1.globo, Padilha had this to say about casting the lead role:

“I’ll be traveling this Friday back to LA, bringing this new version to discuss with the studio, and maybe begin with the casting, selecting actors… and the idea is to begin filming in February or March. That’s the idea, you know, we never know in the American movie industry. We’re just delivering the project, but also we depend on the schedule of the actors. It’s tough.

I can’t talk yet, it’s too early to speak, but there are some actors I like. I really like Fassbender, I’ll talk to him. There’s a possibility, and there’s a lot of other great actors that would play RoboCop. But that’s the idea, to film around January, February, March.”

Apparently a bunch of other outlets had made Padilha’s statements about Fassbender to seem as though the actor was locked for the role, so the director has since gone on record saying that he likes Fassbender and thinks he’s great, but his statement has been blown out of proportion.

RoboCop is slated to hit theaters in 2013.