Matt Damon in Talks for Neill Blomkamp's Sci-Fi 'Elysium'

Earlier this week, we reported District 9 director and star Neill Blomkamp and Sharlto Copley would be reteaming for Blomkamp's new sci-fi flick Elysium.  While this is true, new reports state Copley won't be the film's star as currently Matt Damon is in talks to come aboard as the lead.

These reports also imply that Damon won't be the only actor with star power joining this film as the company financing the project, Media Rights Capital, won't take it to distributors until next year after "it has it's major cast."

Hit the jump to hear what we know about the film and what this could mean for Damon's upcoming schedule.

Thus far, all anyone outside of the project knows about this film is what writer/director Blomkamp has had to say about it.  And that ain't much...

"I’ve got one science fiction idea that I’m absolutely in love with, which I’m pretty sure is going to be my next film. 99% sure…It’s totally original, it’s my own story…It’s set on another planet, but it’s cool. It’s violent, very violent, and very unique hopefully."

"It is science fiction and it has many sociopolitical ideas that interest me. Those ideas are wrapped up inside something that is like a Hollywood action film…The setting for the next film takes place 150 years from now."

"Hopefully, this will be a bit unique, very much a reflection of me. It is absolutely another science fiction film, quite different from District 9, but some of the blending of genres and the tone might be within the same realm."

It ain't much, but it does sound pretty cool.  And, after seeing what Blomkamp did on District 9 and in those live-action Halo commercials he directed I'm on board for anything he puts out.

As far as the casting of Damon goes, I really do think he has the combination or grit and talent to handle Blomkamp's in-your-face style.  I mean look what he did with Greengrass in the Bourne series.  The only thing that could get in the way is his upcoming schedule.  On the immediate horizon, Damon has already signed onto the Liberace bio-pic with Soderbergh, Cameron Crowe's new one, playing Robert F Kennedy, and a potential reteaming with BFF Ben Affleck, as well as a handful of others.  So even with the start of Elysium still a ways out, something's gotta give in Damon's schedule for this to work.

Comments

[Motorcycle Parts]

It really is a science fiction film second, completely different from District 9, but part of the mix of genres and the tone can be in the same wealth