April 9, 2013 by Vinnie Leduc
Near future. Anti-immigration undertones. Ravaged Earth. Class lines. Mechanical bionics. Sound familiar? It should, as the new and first trailer for Elysium, an honorable mention on our list of most anticipated movies of 2013, holds many similarities to two other sci-fi movies we’re really looking forward to this year (After Earth and Oblivion) as well as writer/director Neill Blomkamp’s previous film, District 9, an Oscar nominee for Best Picture and one of the best sci-fi movies of the last decade, if not of all time.
Instead of extraterrestrial prawns stuck in government camps in South Africa, Blomkamp’s next social commentary sci-fi deals with the underprivileged citizens of an effed-up Earth unable to emigrate to floating city Elysium, where apparently the lifestyle of ultra-white cleanliness equates to no poverty, war, or sickness. Oh, but not if Matt Damon and his partial robot suit have anything to say about that. Snap! Resistance, rebellion, revolution, renaissance, retribution, and other important-sounding words that start with the letter “R” probably ensue!
With a reported budget of $120 million (four times that of District 9), Elysium stars Academy Award winner Matt Damon, Academy Award winner Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley (the lead in District 9), Wagner Moura, Alice Braga, Diego Luna, Carly Pope, and William Fichtner. It’s scheduled for release this summer, five days before the four year anniversary of the release of District 9, on August 9, 2013.
Hat tip to turtle. for the news lead!
