Though he spent a few years developing the high profile Halo film that never came to be, director Neill Blomkamp burst onto the film scene in a big way with his stellar 2009 sci-fi pic District 9. Not only did the film include some truly killer effects work, but it was actually about something and tackled social issues like segregation and xenophobia on a sci-fi platform. It’s been three long years since District 9 opened, and fans are eagerly awaiting Blomkamp’s follow-up, the futuristic thriller Elysium. Plot details have been firmly under wraps, but we know that it fits squarely into the sci-fi genre and stars Matt Damon, Jodi Foster, Wagner Moura, Sharlto Copley, William Fichtner and Diego Luna.
A full synopsis for Elysium has been brought to our attention, giving us a much better idea of what to expect. The film is apparently screening for preview audiences tonight and the ticket includes a fairly detailed logline for the pic. As with District 9, it appears that Elysium will also be dealing with grander issues than space guns and aliens. Hit the jump to read the synopsis. Elysium is slated to open on March 1st, 2013.
Here’s the synopsis, followed by an image of the preview screening ticket:
In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard line government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.
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I was down when I heard Blomkamp was doing this.. now I’m extra down
Is that when someone with Down’s Syndrome levels up (or levels down in this case)?
I got an invite to this screening… But all the tickets were gone. I’m so excited for this film.
It had been so long since any news about this movie surfaced. I have some high hopes for this flick!
I loved District 9, but I’ll be disappointed if this turns into a big Occupy-ish screed with Damon’s leading the way. Sounds like it’s heading straight there from the plot summary.
Damon’s politics leading the way.
Stupid uneditable comments.
‘District 9′ was a fine little sci-fi allegory, but this just sounds like heavy-handed agitprop, considering the chaos illegal immigration is causing the world over, they should be making a film showing people why it’s a good thing to bring back ethnic quotas for immigration (well, either that or permanent snipers at the border)…
lol
/silly republican
Relax dude, I’m only joking (about the snipers at least), and I ain’t American so thus am neither Republican nor Democrat…
District 9 is the best sci fi movie of the 21 century in my opinion
but the plot to this sounds so ehh. I’m excited for it and i know it will be amazing. but i would never write a story like this. its too basic
Oh wow, I loved District 9, I didnt expect this synopsis. Once again the wealthy are the bad guys. Why cant it be inspiring to be wealthy? He could of made it that the Russians left earth to live in space and earth is dying, and people from earth want to live, thats it.
As district 9 showed, politics aren’t this directors strong suit.
Sounds like a realistic future…
Too bad Foster is the villain. I love her and I hoped she would be the good guy. Can’t wait!!!
This movie is not smart. Neill Blomkamp is a racist thief, I say this because clearly this story is based of The Elysium Of England which involved Cecil Rhodes and the role of Damon should rightfully be a black actor. After D-9 and the poor allegory that is was, I should add that this man is racist and has an agenda. Americans, ignorant as they are, will obviously eat this rubbish up.
He’s racist because in district 9 the main character guy killed some africans in defense?, I’m sure those actors still got paid?
I really don’t love Damon and maybe that part is right, but I think the day of multiple Black leads is going to come ie.Black Panther film, possibly Luke Cage, Probably some others that will blast the doors open for some actors that probably do deserve it. Many of the people from The Wire should get there.
That’s kinda bold, I’m sure many americans WON’T go if say the film has a 20% to 35% on rotten tomatoes and ACTUALLY is you know trash.
No it’s racist because in District-9 the African’s were depicted as savages far worse than anything seen before and thus ruined what the movie was actually trying to say. I’m not trying to tell Blomkamp anything, but it’s always a pleasure when you at least take the time to research other cultures and look at it from their side. And also getting South African actors to portray Nigerians was just plain rude considering there is still a zenophobic crisis going on in South Africa. But of course Americans won’t know that because they’re so caught up in their own politics and superbowl to know about the rest of the world.
d9 was the opposite of racist, it was anti-racist. asides from some peoples problem at the nigerians depiction.which i never really saw as a problem. ( if anyone being a villain in movies was racially motivated, the englishman has had the toughest time )
If he is a racist, why did he pick up 3 latinos actors. Alice Braga, Diego Luna and Wagner Moura.
Latinos are not a race Sara. Latinos could be 100% Spanish lineage, which means they are actually white. Do some research.
Your posts are absolutely ridiculous. I don’t even know where to begin… but I’m sure a shit gonna point a few things out to you.
1) If you can’t spell xenophobe you probably shouldn’t be using the term.
2) Country of origin and race are completely independent so accusing Blomkamp of being a racist only makes you additionally ignorant. Did you ever think that Blomkamp hired South African actors because he is from South Africa and primarily knows South African actors?
Do you SERIOUSLY expect a first time feature director, to have the budget to fly in hundreds of film extras from other countries, just so their passports are factually accurate?
3) Depicting the Nigerians WARLORDS in D9 as cannibalistic warlike savages is accurate. That’s how those fuckers rolled throughout the civil wars to overthrow Charles Taylor. Like it or not, General Butt-Naked and the like are part of that country’s history and so are the atrocities they committed. Do you have ANY idea what the fuck you are talking about? ANY?
4) Where the FUCK do you get off calling anyone a XENOphobe or a racist when you, yourself are posting UTTERLY racists and xenophobic bullshit?
You dare insult Americans as self-involved with our superbowls and own politics when I, AN AMERICAN know more about the Nigerian culture and history that you are referencing.
If anything, we are fixated on our own government (like most governments) that now act solely in the interest of multinational corporations just as we saw in District 9. Which also shows you cannot comprehend excellent allegory when you see it.
Whatever your nationality or race you happen to be, you are an embarrassment to your people.
GFY
I agree with Alex, however I should say that this is not smart. Neill Blomkamp is a racist thief, I say this because clearly this story is based of The Elysium Of England which involved Cecil Rhodes and the role of Damon should rightfully be a black actor. After D-9 and the poor allegory that is was, I should add that this man is racist and has an agenda. Americans, ignorant as they are, will obviously eat this rubbish up.
Reverse discrimination much
This sounds good to me but like others have stated, I hope it’s light on the politics.
I’ll see this just because I liked District 9 so much but all I hope is that Blomkamp isn’t going to carry this theme of segregation over into all his movies. It would be nice to see something a little different.
Saying that however, I do have a feeling there is more to this synopsis than meets the eye.
lol a real man u gay
Great…. I was wondering why Matt Damon was interested in SciFi after turning down the Star Trek reboot Kirk role. It was not political enough. But Bloomkamp likes these themes. Oh well, I will watch it on Stream NetFlix one day, not the theatre or rental. Booo… disappointed.
You opt to wait all the way until Netflix based on the summary attached to a screening invite? We don’t know what the film will be like at all. At least wait for the trailer.