Director Neill Blomkamp has, thankfully enough, not kicked any of his thematic interests while making the transition to his sophomore effort. The District 9 helmer returns to theaters later this summer with his Matt Damon-starring Elysium, another sci-fi epic that deals with the inherent evils of rigid class division and the true measure of a man modified by technology far beyond his control. Put simply – if you were into District 9, you’re going to be into Elysium.
The film’s first trailer relies on cool visuals, massive scope, and the cache of its strong cast (also including Jodie Foster and Sharlto Copley) to sell the project, leaving plot expansion for a later date, but the bare bones of the film’s story are all there. Set in 2159, Elysium imagines a world where the rich get to live on a clean, safe, advanced space station (called Elysium) that orbits just within view of Earth, now populated exclusively by the poor, the dangerous, and the criminal. One of those poor, dangerous, and criminal is Damon’s Max, a convict who is attempting to go straight but who can’t quite seem to stay out of trouble. When Max gets sick, he hatches a plan to go to Elysium to steal some of their near-perfect medicine to cure himself (well, sort of).
And then he gets involved with some dudes who have a much bigger plan for Elysium which, yes, just might include bringing the whole thing down. Enjoy your sweet space station now, richies. Rejoice in the return of Neill Blomkamp and check out the first trailer for Elysium after the break.
Elysium opens on August 9th.