The Pitch: Inspector Gadget Returns

Depending on how the backlog of posts work themselves out, this piece may actually come as soon as a fortnight after a "Thinking Out Loud" decrying the demand for "dark and gritty" superhero films, which will result in me looking like a bit of a hypocrite. Now, I do actually think that the "dark and gritty" hero stuff can work on occasion, such as Logan or even Dredd, just that it shouldn't be the default for any character with a strong history at least back to the 1980s. I've hedged about it, but I really think the Question (Sage or Montoya, take your pick) would work well as a more grim and grounded film, if only so the character could tackle broader issues of social justice as well as supervillains and Intergang. 

Even so, this one is a little different, this idea is about taking a character that really only has resonance with Gen-Xers and updating it to keep with the themes that that audience are living with. More than just being a "grim and gritty reboot" of a beloved childhood icon, this is a deconstruction, taking apart something to not only see how it works, but also to discuss some new ideas through the same lens. Get ready for some heavy themes in this one, we're going full postmodern. 

Inspector Gadget Returns 
Thirty years ago, Inspector Gadget was a hero, repeatedly foiling the schemes of terrorist organisation MAD despite an appearance of near-compete incompetence. All that ended when Gadget's niece, Penny, was revealed to be the real hero, working behind the scenes to cover for her bumbling uncle, with the aid of her dog, no less. In the ensuing scandal, Gadget was "shelved" and the Police got on with business. Flash forward to now and the situation is dire, MAD are running around essentially unchecked, crime is rampant in the city and the Police department is falling apart. Desperate, the mayor turns to an outsider advisor, a woman named Penny, who recommends reactivating Inspector Gadget. 

Plot 
A man out of time still haunted by his disgrace, Inspector Gadget is overwhelmed by the new world in which he finds himself and the awesome responsibility with which he's been saddled. Rather than bumbling goons, Gadget is sent up against heavily armed gang members, into fortified neighborhoods and hostage situations, bullets bouncing off his cyborg body, murdering criminals with his extending arms and rotating blades. Through all this, Gadget is disconnected, seeing what he is doing, but not feeling it as he does it. Penny is unwilling to rebuild her relationship with Gadget, as he reminders her of her failure to keep him safe in the past. 
As Gadget is put through increasingly violent encounters, he begins the see the consequence of his actions, that the poor and disenfranchised are kept in their situation by inter-generational wealth disparity and that crime is a social response rather than a preferred choice. With his superiors unwilling to listen and the government unable to tackle the root causes of poverty and urban decay, Gadget goes rogue, attacking corrupt politicians and white collar criminal executives. 
With no choice, the police send in SWAT to take out Gadget when he holds a senator hostage, demanding the redistribution of wealth to the slum areas of the city. Gadget picks off the SWAT members one by one, but each fight damages him more. In the finale, Gadget faces down the last SWAT member whilst leaving a recorded message for Penny. 

Tone 
Dark, but with some balance to it, think Robocop or Pan's Labyrinth. Sure there will be some violent scenes, but they need to be dialed up to comical levels, like Robocop or Starship Troopers, not played straight. There are a lot of political and social justice themes, which need to be done well so as to not turn off an audience to whom such ideas aren't engaging. 

Cast
This is the kind of film that lives and dies around a single actor, so that's all I'm really focused on. Hence, my choice for Gadget, Tom Jane: 

Now, did I pick Jane because of how much I liked him in The Punisher? Partly, but I want through a big list of 'older' male actors and Jane hit the sweet spot between acting ability, fame and history of playing similar characters. In both The Punisher and Hung, Jane has played men with nothing less to lose, capable of extreme acts with a straight face whilst clearly struggling underneath the surface. Also Jane is a way better actor than people give him credit for.

Crew
I hate when I can't think of a really "cool" or "outsider idea for Director of these things, but I really can't go past either Paul Verhoeven or the RZA. Both have a good track record with both filming violence and presenting social issues in an engaging way. Each would turn out a vastly different film, however, so I couldn't pick between them. Hey, this is a fantasy pitch, I don't need to have everything set in stone. 

Alright, come at me Inspector Gadget fans. Sure, maybe I'm breaking down a childhood icon into something I'd normally poke fun at, but is it really a worse idea than the Disney live-action versions? Next time, something different again.