Rappers Yolandi Visser and Ninja to star in Neil Blomkamp’s ‘Chappie’

After being kidnapped by two criminals during birth, Chappie becomes the adopted son in a strange and dysfunctional family. Chappie is preternaturally gifted, one of a kind, a prodigy. He also happens to be a robot.

Thus reads the synopsis for Chappie, the upcoming science fiction film from District 9 and Elysium director Neil Blomkamp. Such a plot may not immediately make you think of rappers, but we can’t all think like Blomkamp who cast South African rappers (note: Blomkamp is himself South African) Ninja and Yolandi Visser in the film.

Twitchfilm reports that Ninja and Visser – both members of the band Die Antwoord – recently finished shooting their roles – “LEAD ROLES” according to Ninja – in Chappie. Via Facebook, Ninja has described making the film as “fukn cool” and “a dream cum true” – apparently both rappers and the director are big fans of each other, and Blomkamp approached the due after attending one of their concerts.

From the lengthy post:

Neill met sooo many challenges putting this insane masterpiece explosion of a film together, mainly cos of the HUGE gamble he was taking by casting these 2 weird-ass ZEF motherfuckers from the dark depths of afrika, as the LEAD ROLES!!! starring along side a robot!!!

The robot in question is being played by frequent Blomkamp collaborator, Sharlto Copley (Wikus in District 9; Kruger in Elysium) another South African native. Other cast members include  Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, and Dev Patel.