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)