Whether you look at it from a critical or commercials standpoint, Neill Blomkamp’s 2013 sci-fi drama Elysium did not meet the expectations set forth following the success of his 2009 debut film, District 9. However, this hasn’t dampened the writer/director’s passion for filmmaking or sci-fi, as he returns with another story about robots with the upcoming Chappie.
With a first look at the title character Chappie during Comic Con this past summer, Sony Pictures has debuted the first official trailer and poster for the movie.
Directed and written by Blomkamp, alongside his wife and co-writer from District 9, Terri Tatchell, Chappie centers on a gifted robot who was kidnapped by two South African gangsters (Die Antwoord’s Yo-landi Visser and Ninja) and becomes part of their dysfunctional family. Producer Simon Kinberg (X-Men: Days of Future Past) says it’s “the most provocative studio movie you’ll likely ever see.”
In 2012, Blomkamp revealed that Chappie has a fair amount of background in common with District 9 and Elysium. “District 9, Elysium and Chappie were all born out of some visual concept first, Chappie is the imagery, because I think I’m a visual person first, of this ridiculous robot character. It’s much more comedy based, and in an unusual setting.”
Sharlto Copley (Maleficent) provides the voice for Chappie, with a supporting cast that includes Hugh Jackman (X-Men), Dev Patel (The Last Airbender), Sigourney Weaver (Avatar), Jose Pablo Cantillo (Disturbia), and Brandon Auret (Elysium).
Chappie opens on March 27th, 2015. Check out the trailer below.
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