Sony Picks Up Neill Blomkamp's New Sci-Fi Movie Elysium
Posted 01.22.11 by BrentJS
District 9 director Neill Blomkamp cut short his scheduled series of studio meetings on Wednesday after Sony Pictures snapped up the rights to his next movie, Elysium. The movie, written by Blomkamp, is being produced by Media Rights Capital and has Blomkamp's District 9 lead, Sharlto Copley, attached to star in it, along with Academy Award-winners Jodie Foster and Matt Damon.
The plot of Elysium is a secret at this time, but it will be set 100 years in the future and is expected to contain a social allegory in much the same way that District 9 used alien refugees to comment on apartheid in South Africa, possibly involving a geneticist named Joseph Kulper who creates a virus that kills anyone without an IQ of at least 70 (see video below). Acclaimed set designer Syd Mead (Blade Runner) has been hired to design the look of the future world and tech in the movie.
Blomkamp released a statement expressing just how happy he is that Sony, which also picked up District 9 in a distribution deal, will be handling distribution on Elysium.
I literally could not be happier. I have a brilliant relationship with Sony. I loved them during District 9, they 100 percent get this film and they get me. Elysium is in very good hands.
Here's the viral video for Elysium:
MRC has already greenlit Blomkamp's follow-up to Elysium, an original movie that he wrote titled Chappie, which will go into production immediately after Elysium. No other details about Chappie were released with the announcement and the movie is not part of Sony's distribution deal for Elysium.
Next Showing: Elysium is scheduled for a late 2012 release