Darren Aronofsky has accepted MGM's challenge to relaunch the "Robocop" franchise.

The company announced on Thursday (July 24) that the new "Robocop" feature is being fast tracked for a 2010 release with the "Requiem for a Dream" helmer directing from a script by David Self.

"Darren is undeniably one of the most talented, original and visceral film makers, and David is one of the greatest writers in Hollywood," says Mary Parent, chairman of MGM's Worldwide Motion Picture Group. "All of us at MGM couldn't be more excited."

The project will be produced by Phoenix Pictures' Mike Medavoy, Arnold Messer, Brad Fischer and David Thwaites.

In a statement, Medavoy says, "After making the first 'Robocop' at Orion more than 20 years ago, I'm thrilled to be helping to return this character to the screen with our partners at MGM and through the eyes of Darren Aronofsky and David Self."

Paul Verhoven directed the 1987 original, which focused on a Detroit cop played by Peter Weller. After being terminally wounded, the character is brought back as a law-enforcement cyborg bent on cleaning up urban blight.

The relatively low-budget film was a box office success and even picked up a pair of Oscar nominations.

"With a filmmaker of Darren Aronofsky's vision and imagination and a writer of David Self's caliber, we are poised to bring to the screen an entertaining and provocative film, which will now be under the creative guidance of two of the best storytellers working in our industry today," say Fischer and Thwaites in yet another statement.

Other credits for Aronofsky include "Pi," "The Fountain" and the upcoming "The Wrestler."

Self wrote the dramas "Thirteen Days" and "Road to Perdition."