Elysium, the highly anticipated next movie from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp, isn’t even out yet (set for release on August 9th), but casting is already underway for his next project, which is titled Chappie.

According to sources, Slumdog Millionaire and The Newsroom star Dev Patel is in early negotiations to star in the movie, which is written by Blomkamp and his wife, Terri Tatchell, who also co-wrote District 9.

Continue reading for more and to see a video of the short that inspired Chappie.

A new poster has been released for Elysium, the new movie from District 9 director Neill Blomkamp.

The movie is set in the year 2159 where the rich and healthy reside on a floating city space station called Elysium, while the poor and sick live in poverty on the overpopulated remnants of what was once planet Earth. It stars Matt Damon as a man fighting for his life who decides to do whatever it takes to reach Elysium and find a cure for not only himself, but for the millions of mistreated people like him who desperately need medicine.

You can check out the poster below.

The Screen Gems/Sony Panel concluded the day’s festivities today in Hall H at San Diego’s Comic-Con with a panel for Elysium, a science fiction yarn set in the distant future in which two classes of individuals, the rich and the poor, dwell on a man-made space station named after the title. In classic David vs. Goliath sensibilities, one man, an ex-con, is forced take on a mission that not only will save his life, but takes on the hierarchy of the elite that, if able to topple them, could bring the two separated worlds of the “haves” and “have nots” back together as one.

Director/Writer Neill Blomkamp (District 9) and Simon Kinberg, Shartlo Copley, Academy Award Winners Matt Damon (who plays a “have not” ex-con, baldheaded and looking more menacing than ever) and Jodie Foster (a “have”) discussed the film on the panel (both who were making their first time appearances at Comic-Con).

Director Neill Blomkamp‘s follow-up to the 2009 hit District 9, Elysium, will once again feature a blend of sci-fi and social issues. Since production for the film has been heavily guarded, outside of who is cast, we know very little about the film. But with San Diego Comic-Con just around the corner, all that will change when Blomkamp himself will make an appearance to talk about the film.

To tease that much anticipated panel, an image has been released offering us our first look at a bald Matt Damon with a heavy duty gun. You can see the image above, or a bigger version below.

The fourteenth episode of The Geeks Of Doom Round Up is here, and Greg takes a look at the trailer for the UK Thrash Documentary called A History Of A Time To Come directed by Joshua Callis-Smith. For our music selection this week, Andy pays tribute to the late Bob Welch, with a tune from Fleetwood Mac called “Sentimental Lady.”

Later, we take a look at the plans for Neill Blomkamp‘s upcoming follow-up to District 9, which is entitled Elysium. We also discuss some recent news focusing on a special Director’s Cut of The Avengers.

Podcast

[Download Link]