Some huge news to start off your day this Friday. Earlier this week we reported that District 9 star Sharlto Copley will be re-teaming with director Neill Blomkamp for his next secret sci-fi project, Elysium. This week, they were going around to the highly interested studios looking for a distributor. While they haven’t landed on one yet, and won’t until next year, they have attached a major star.
Deadline reports that Matt Damon is “in early negotiations to star” in the film. We have no idea of any of the roles yet, only that it is not related to District 9 at all, but like it, the film will be “filled with many sociopolitical ideas wrapped up inside a Hollywood action film.”
It will be Blomkamp’s own original story, but set on another planet. He has said it is “violent, very violent, and very unique hopefully.” He always previously said it will take place 150 years in the future and in one of two cities that he is currently deciding, but not South Africa. In a contradictory statement he said that “the cities will play themselves.” There was a viral video uncovered in WiReD magazine, which may hint at the film. You can see it here.
What do you think of the casting of Matt Damon in a heavy sci-fi film?