UPDATE: Sony Pictures has won distribution rights for ELYSIUM, putting a hefty $120 million price tag on the F/X driven spectacle…almost 4 times the budget of Blomkamp’s DISTRICT 9.
After waiting with bated breath to find out what Neill Blomkamp (right) would follow his highly engaging DISTRICT 9 with, I think we can all agree ELYSIUM sounds intriguing enough. Cryptic, but intriguing!
Well, Deadline has gleaned a few more details on the epic sci-fi spectacle, which currently has Matt Damon, Jodie Foster (below) and Sharlto Copley attached to star.
Word is the film will be set 100 years into the future, and much like DISTRICT 9, will have a strong social message. However, it’ll be much bigger than DISTRICT 9, replete with all the tecnho-gadgets and gizmos a futuristic story calls for.
Even more exciting is the news that Syd Mead, conceptual artist of such projects as BLADE RUNNER, TRON, ALIENS, MI:III, etc., has been added to the production of ELYSIUM. Apparently Mead is very difficult to lock up, but his love for DISTRICT 9 sealed the deal. Lucky for us!
ELYSIUM will prep in April for a July start date in Vancouver. The production will then move to Mexico in the fall. The film is said to eventually come out during the 2012 holidays.