In the future, the wealthy live free of poverty and illness on the space station Elysium. While the rest of us poor mooks live on Earth like a bunch of sick losers. Matt Damon stars as an ex-con on Earth who uses a weaponized exoskeleton to aid his mission to break into Elysium, rip killer robots apart with his bare hands, and find a cure for the cancer that is rapidly

In the first still from the director’s District 9 follow-up, we see that Matt Damon is reprising the cameo role he played in EuroTrip. Though, the events that would transform a Rollins wannabe from the suburbs into a big honkin’ gun-wielding man in the fight for his life on a dystopian Earth haven’t been explained yet. It’s also not explained whether or not he’s still tapping Kristin Kreuk‘s Fiona. But I have trust that Blomkamp will explain it all and have it make sense. District 9 was sooooo good.

As details about the film’s plot have been kept under wraps, it’s open to debate how the photos of the mansion tie into the film’s plot. Also up for debate is why Damon would be stumbling through a construction site and what he ate to put him into that predicament in the first place. (via Collider)

What you’re seeing above is a viral campaign launched to promote Neill Blomkamp‘s Elysium. ComingSoon came across a recruitment poster at Comic-Con that points to the fictional website Armadyne, where the video is posted. I’ve gotta say, as far as virals go this looks really impressive. If they’re willing to put this kind of money into a web video, imagine what Neill Blomkamp will be able to achieve with his budget. It’s going to look sweeeet. Wake me up in 2013 when the movie’s released. **locks self in Demolition Man cryo-chamber**

Luna would join Damon, William Fichtner, and Jodie Foster in the sci-fi flick. Elysium tells the story of an alien-human war here on earth, with filming taking place in both Mexico and Canada, presumably to better convey a sense of a continental war.

Elysium must be some kind of production, because the summer ’11 start date doesn’t allow the film to hit theaters any sooner than March ’13. One could guess that there are probably some special effects in the mix on this guy. (Variety)

Moura has landed the villain role in Neill Blomkamp‘s Elysium opposite Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, and Jodie Foster. There’s not a lot known about the plot other than that it deals with social class in a future world where Damon plays an ex-con. Moura’s villian is “described as having a crazy sense of humor.”

Oh man. Let’s hope he’s not Future Carrot Top. Although, it would make sense that humor still exists in a dystopian future. (Latino Review)

UPDATE: Sony has snagged Neill Blomkamp‘s Elysium with Universal co-financing, forcing rival studios to let out a collective, “Awwwwwwww!” At the same time, MRC has signed an overall deal with Blomkamp, and has given a green light to a second movie called Chappie. The film will go into production right after Blomkamp completes Elysium, which is now scheduled for a late 2012 release. At least now we know that Blomkamp prefers titles that mean absolutely nothing out of context.

It’s safe to say that Neill Blomkamp won’t have any trouble finding a home for his District 9 follow-up Elysium. He’s going door-to-door today to see which studio bites.

Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, and Jodie Foster are already hooked in to star. Big news today is that the elusive Syd Mead has signed on for set design. The guy who made Blade Runner look like Neo-Tokyo is such a fan of District 9 that he dropped the art diva routine and to take the job. Now we’re guaranteed that this futuristic thriller will at least deliver on the promise of looking futuristic. (Deadline)

The Matt Damon - Djimon Hounsou hand transplant was a complete success.

Neill Blomkamp‘s Elysium is picking up serious steam. He shopped his second sci-fi film around Hollywood earlier this week, and now it looks like he’s found his leading man in the form of Matt Damon. Sharlto Copley has already agreed to join the film, and more major casting is expected over the next few months.

We still don’t know much of anything about this project except that it takes place on an alien world, is very violent, and deals with sociopolitical themes. As a fan of Blomkamp and Damon, I’m really eager to learn more. Plus, this is Damon’s first science fiction film. Fans have been waiting years to see him fire a laser gun. (Deadline)

Neill Blomkamp is moving forward with Elysium. What the hell is Elysium? Does it involve the secret origin of the McRib? No. Elysium is a sci-fi action film loaded several sociopolitical commentary and questions that takes place in the future on a distant planet. Another thread that will tie this to District 9 is the news that Sharlto Copley will continue his dude-crush with the director by appearing in this film.

He’s taking meetings all over town with an Elysium graphic novel in tow (as he did with District 9). Looks like he’s figured out the perfect way to pitch to execs. “And as you’ll see from this drawing, the space-jeep goes, ‘VVRRRROOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!’” (Deadline)

But I can tell you one thing: this video makes me inexplicably hungry. There’s some good-looking meat on them haunches. I’m pretty sure this is where McRib comes from. (/Film)

Why doesn’t anybody (good) want to direct The Hobbit? Peter Jackson passed. Guillermo del Toro quit. Now we have word the rumored shoe-in Neill Blomkamp won’t be taking the gig either. Though in all fairness, he was never offered the job. From Vulture:

An insider at his agency, William Morris Endeavor, confirms to Vulture that not only is Blomkamp not doing the movie, no one from MGM/United Artists or Warner Bros. has even contacted them about his directing the film.

But they may have considered Brett Ratner. Makes total sense. If anything, MGM will always be remembered for their sound business decisions. Hopefully they won’t be remembered as the studio that forced Sir Ian McKellan to wear a "Team Ratner" t-shirt.

Break open a celebratory tin of cat food! A source at Weta has told MarketSaw that a sequel to District 9 is in pre-production and will go before cameras this October. Peter Jackson will once again produce with Neill Blomkamp back in the director’s chair. There’s no word yet about the plot or the title of the sequel. Though my well-placed sources (who wish to remain anonymous) tell me they may involve an Electric Boogaloo.

1980′s nostalgia continues to boom at Paul Reubens has announced that he’ll be dusting off the red bow-tie. The LA Times reports that Pee-wee Herman will perform onstage in Hollywood this November for a limited engagement at the Music Box @ Fonda. Perhaps if this run is successful it will lead to the big screen productions Reubens has been trying to get off the ground for the last nine years. The actor stated, "I’ve put part of him away for a long time but part of him has always been here with me. I think it will be like riding a bike — which is not a bad analogy for Pee-wee, by the way." Although his humor is off the beaten track, I’m glad that Reubens decided to pound the pavement and put this show together. His laziness was beginning to rub me the wrong way. On an unrelated note, I wonder if he listens to The Strokes?

Check out these big adventurous morning links…

To Whoever Shut Down The Halo Film:

I had my sneaking suspicions before, but now I can safely say that you are all complete idiots.  Let me make one thing clear: I have yet to actually read why you shut down the Peter Jackson-produced and Neill Blomkamp-directed adaptation of the popular video game franchise Halo.  I believe I read at one point that it was something related to money.  I find this funny, because it seems like if you had just made the movie, it would have made tons of money.  More money than you could ever imagine…

Why am I confident of this?  For two reasons: 1) Halo was the most popular game of all time for a five year span and 2) I saw District 9 at Comic-Con, which could have also been aptly titled, Hey, Dudes Who Shut Down The Halo Movie: You F*cked Up BIG TIME.  It makes no mention to the story or plot of the film, but I think it is an accurate representation of what this film stands for.  This film could have been Halo, but you guys screwed yourselves.

The aforementioned screwing of yourself is no longer of any concern to me, because frankly, District 9 is a smarter and more action-packed story than what you guys probably would have tried to get them to do with a Halo flick.  My guess is you would’ve pushed for a PG-13 rating to get more people in seats.  Also, you would have cast Brad Pitt as Master Chief, if given the chance.  Instead, Jackson and Blomkamp went straight for the jugular with a very violent R, and then made the choice of casting one of Blomkamp’s friends, a non-actor, mind you, in the lead role.  I suppose you would find that to be a disaster, wouldn’t you? 

Well, turns out it isn’t at all.  Peter Jackson came out before the screening, and announced confidently that he was proud with the film they made that turned to not be Halo.  I knew at that point I was in good hands for the next two hours.  The action and violence in the film features the most crowd-pleasing moments in a sci-fi splatter fest since Starship Troopers came twelve years ago.  It’s hard to imagine that it’s been 12 years since a good and gory sci-fi action film came out, which I think was made even harder because I was expecting a badass Halo movie three years ago.  Oh, and the non-actor, Sharlto Copley?  He’s unbelievably good.  He could have been given, I don’t know, Master Chief-style body armor, and still have communicated realistic emotional distress better than half of the A-listers in Hollywood.  He even stuck around at the screening and took photos or signed autographs with everyone who was fawning over him after the movie was finished, because he’s not all Hollywood and realizes that if fans like him, they’ll support him (as opposed to you guys, who seem to treat them only as cash machines).

Copley’s performance also speaks a lot to the film’s director, the first-timer it seems you guys were worried about having at the helm.  He took his school friend and a documentary style approach and made one of the best sci-fi films of the summer, which isn’t an easy accomplishment considering his competition of the action romp Star Trek and the cerebral Sam Rockwell movie Moon.  Blomkamp found a middle ground between these two films, balancing balls out action with introspection and even political commentary (segregation in South Africa?  Could this movie be a metaphor for Apartheid?  It doesn’t really matter, because the movie is too busy rocking socks off for people to care).

In conclusion, I’m still a little bitter that you screwed up the Halo film.  But District 9 will slowly help that bitterness.

Sincerely (And By Sincerely, I Mean “Eat It”),

Spencer Vickers