Sharlto Copley Will Reunite With Neill Blomkamp In Chappie
This article is more than 2 years old
Although Neill Blomkamp’s Elysium isn’t due in theaters until this August, the 33-year-old South African director is already working on his follow-up film. It will once again be a science fiction movie, but Chappie will be Blomkamp’s first stab at comedy.
Entertainment Weekly reports that Chappie will feature a long-time Blomkamp collaborator, actor Sharlto Copley. Although it’s unclear who Copley will play in the film, Chappie would be the third time he’s appeared in a Neill Blomkamp movie.
Copley made his feature film debut as Wikus van der Merwe, the lead in 2009’s District 9, which was also Neill Blomkamp’s feature film debut. Copley will next appear as the villain Kruger in Blomkamp’s upcoming Elysium. The South African actor also appeared in Joe Carnahan’s 2010 adaptation of TV’s The A-Team, playing Capt. HM “Howling Mad” Murdock. Copley will also appear in the upcoming sci-fi film The Europa Report, which comes out later this year.
There is still not much known about Chappie, but Blomkamp called the film “a fundamentally more simple story, a comedy, a heartfelt story, in a science fiction setting. And it’s fucking hilarious, it’s a really cool film.” Blomkamp wrote the film with his writing partner and wife, Terri Tatchell (District 9).
Last week it was announced that the South African rap duo Die Artwoord would also star in Chappie. The duo, made up of rappers Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er, will play themselves.
As for Elysium, the dystopian sci-fi social allegory will hit theaters everywhere on August 9th.
