I was fascinated to see the number of parallels between yourElite Squadfilms andRoboCop.

Was that why you wanted to make it?

So theres a strong parallel inRoboCop.

That conflict is exterior to the character of Nascimento, between two things that arent a part of himself.

Its interior to the character of RoboCop: you have a man fighting a machine inside a single entity.

And thats why its a brilliant concept in Verhoevens movie.

Its a serious issue.

Its true that the automation of violence opens the door to fascism.

And its a real, serious issue.

So I think those are pretty grounded subject matters that will show up in the near future.

The Gary Oldman line, yeah.

There are several ways in which we dont have free will.

Bill Gates called this the womb lottery.

And so yeah, theres that.

But theres also the philosophical concept that theres no free will at all.

The standard position in the philosophical world is that there is no free will none at all.

Nobody really knows how to explain consciousness.

Theres no scientific explanation for consciousness.

Now thats essentially what philosophers think we are.

But what about free will when it comes up against technology?

Because as you said, the software overrides his brain patterns.

Technology impacts free will and freedoms in general.

They make privacy really difficult.

Thats a choice theyve made.

Youre right, theres a relationship between technology and freedom.

The key that opens the key to heaven also opens the door to hell.

Were those things there when you came on board, those themes?

When I came on board, there was nothing, actually.

There was a Darren Aronofsky script which took place 3,000 years into the future.

It had nothing to do with want we did.

What the fuck am I?

Does it make sense to live like this?

Those were my main strengths, or ideas that I wanted to bring to the movie.

Im a documentary filmmaker first and foremost Ive made more documentary movies than fictional movies.

I still work on docs.

A documentary filmmaker is someone who wants to make a movie because he wants to talk about something.

It could be a character that touches his heart.

Just for the money?

Thats not what I want to do.

Political issues, like violence in Rio de Janeiro, police corruption and all that.

And then I can branch out and reach a broader audience.

Its like journalism, in a sense.

The originalRoboCopidea has Alex Murphy inside a machine fighting its directives.

Its going to happen.

And so I thought I could merge those two things.

Its not easy, you know?

Youve gotta do well in the first preview!

Jose Padilha, thank you very much.

RoboCopis out in UK cinemas on the 7th February.