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“Starship Troopers” are back. And they’ve found the man to lead them into battle.

Neill Blomkamp has been hired by Columbia Pictures to write and direct a new version of the story, this time going back to the original story by Robert A. Heinlein, which was originally published as a two-part serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction before being collected and released as a novel in 1959.

The story follows Johnny Rico and his band of roughnecks, who go into battle against an army of intelligent insects but plot specifics are being kept under wraps. Blomkamp is writing the script and producing alongside Terri Tatchell.

“Starship Troopers” had been adapted once before, in 1997, by “RoboCop” director Paul Verhoeven and writer Edward Neumeier for TriStar Pictures and Touchstone Pictures. That version leaned into the political satire, full of fascistic imagery and jingoistic propagandizing. That hard R-rated film starred Casper Van Dien as Johnny Rico,...

Flying Lotus has directed the experimental comedy Kuso and the Ozzy’s Dungeon segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/99, and next up for the rapper and filmmaker (who is a.k.a. Steven Ellison) is the sci-fi thriller Ash, starring Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). Rlje Films will be giving Ash a nationwide theatrical release this Friday, March 21st (you can read our 6/10 review Here) – and a press release has revealed that a full trailer for the slasher movie Clown in a Cornfield will be attached to Ash! The only way to see the trailer in theatres this weekend will be to attend a screening of Ash.

An adaptation of the Adam Cesare novel (pick up a copy Here) from Tucker & Dale Vs. Evil and Little Evil director Eli Craig, Clown in a Cornfield centers on Quinn and her father, who have just moved...

Rumors of a new Starship Troopers movie have been doing the rounds for a couple of years, and we finally have confirmation that a new take on the classic sci-fi actioner is moving forward at Sony/Colombia Pictures.

As first reported by Mttsh, District 9 filmmaker Neill Blomkamp is set to write and direct the project, and will also produce alongside Terri Tatchell, his partner and wife who co-wrote District 9 and 2015's Chappie with the director.

According to THR, this will not be a remake or reboot of Paul Verhoeven's 1997 movie, but a more direct adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's controversial 1959 novel.

The book focused on the rise of military man Johnny Rico during an interstellar war between Earth's army and legions of giant insect-like aliens known as Bugs. In addition to sci-fi space battles, the story was concerned with highlighting life in a military society, introducing ideas...

In 1997, director Paul Verhoeven and screenwriter Edward Neumeier, the makers of 1987's "RoboCop," reteamed to make "Starship Troopers," a satirical take on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel. "Starship Troopers" takes place in a future where Earth has, for many decades, been at war with giant, intelligent insects from a distant planet. Human society, however, has devolved into a fascist state, and people have all become empty-headed, fist-pumping propaganda vehicles. Media has become bite-sized, and in-your-face. It's no coincidence that the humans are all wearing very Nazi-like uniforms by the film's end. 

"Starship Troopers" wasn't fully appreciated in 1997. It got mostly negative reviews, and many critics didn't seem to pick up on its more satirical elements. It was also only a modest hit, making $121 million on a $100 million budget (sizable at the time). Since then, however, it found its audience, proliferating on home video and on the midnight movie circuit. Its...

THR reports that Neill Blomkamp will write and direct a new Starship Troopers movie for Columbia Pictures. The report states that this won’t be a remake of Paul Verhoeven’s sci-fi classic, but will follow the original novel by Robert A. Heinlein, which was published in 1959.

The novel follows Juan “Johnny” Rico as he joins the Federal Service and goes through the toughest boot camp in the universe as an interstellar war between Earth and an alien species known as Arachnids rages on. Although the novel was very successful, even winning the Hugo Award for Best Novel in 1960, some have criticized it for its militaristic and fascist elements. Verhoeven took the concept to the extreme for his movie, presenting a satire of authoritarian governance.

Blomkamp will also produce the new Starship Troopers movie alongside his wife and partner, Terri Tatchell, who co-wrote District 9 and Chappie.

Related Starship Troopers...

Johnny Rico is coming back to kill some more bugs.

Columbia Pictures is plotting a new Starship Troopers movie, setting District 9 filmmaker Neill Blomkamp to write and direct an adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel story by Robert A. Heinlein.

Blomkamp will also produce the feature alongside Terri Tatchell, his partner and wife who co-wrote the South African filmmaker’s District 9 and 2015 outing, Chappie.

Published in 1959, Troopers ostensibly told of an interstellar war between Earth and a host of bug-like aliens, and focused on a rise of a military serviceman named Johnny Rico. But the story had other things on its minds, like exploring the strengths of life in a military society and such ideas as having to perform service in order to have voting rights.

While the book won a Hugo Award for best novel and has been quite influential in sci-fi literature, some quarters described the book as fascist.

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The Electric State is a sci-fi adventure comedy-drama film co-directed by Anthony and Joe Russo from a screenplay co-written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely. Based on the 2018 illustrated novel of the same name by Simon Stålenhag, the Netflix film is set in the aftermath of a war between robots and humans, and it follows an orphaned girl who teams up with a mysterious robot and a smuggler to find her lost brother in the dangerous America West. The Electric State stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Ke Huy Quan, Jason Alexander, Woody Harrelson, Anthony Mackie, Brian Cox, Jenny Slate, Giancarlo Esposito, and Stanley Tucci. So, if you loved the inventive story, intricate world-building, and entertaining characters in The Electric State, here are some similar movies you should check out next.

Alita: Battle Angel (Rent on Prime Video...

Flying Lotus has directed the experimental comedy Kuso and the Ozzy’s Dungeon segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/99, and next up for the rapper and filmmaker (who is a.k.a. Steven Ellison) is the sci-fi thriller Ash, starring Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). When González and Paul were cast in the film, Flying Lotus released a statement saying, “We are building something fresh and unique with Ash and having Eiza and Aaron in this world just makes it flames. They are absolute magic makers, brave and equally inspiring. All that to say… We ‘bout to kill this.” We won’t have to wait much longer to see how well they did kill it, as Rlje Films will be giving Ash a nationwide theatrical release on March 21st – and in anticipation of that release, a full trailer for the film has just dropped online.

Flying Lotus has directed the experimental comedy Kuso and the Ozzy’s Dungeon segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/99, and next up for the rapper and filmmaker (who is a.k.a. Steven Ellison) is the sci-fi thriller Ash, starring Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). When González and Paul were cast in the film, Flying Lotus released a statement saying, “We are building something fresh and unique with Ash and having Eiza and Aaron in this world just makes it flames. They are absolute magic makers, brave and equally inspiring. All that to say… We ‘bout to kill this.” We won’t have to wait much longer to see how well they did kill it, as Rlje Films will be giving Ash a nationwide theatrical release on March 21st – and in anticipation of that release, a teaser trailer and a teaser poster have been unveiled. You...

May the Force be with Simon Kinberg, who’s recently signed a deal with Lucasfilm to write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy. Kinberg’s writing credits include the screenplay for Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, 2015’s Fantastic Four, and multiple films in Fox’s X-Men franchise, including X-Men 3: The Last Stand, X-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Dark Phoenix. He’ll produce the new Star Wars trilogy for Lucasfilm alongside the studio’s chief, Kathleen Kennedy.

According to Deadline, Simon Kinberg’s Star Wars trilogy involves episodes 10-12 of The Skywalker Saga. However, insiders say Kinberg aims to launch a new saga that goes hand in hand with developing Star Wars projects from James Mangold, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Taika Waititi, and Donald Glover. Lucasfilm remains tight-lipped on the matter, which doesn’t surprise me after I saw their security measures when I visited Industrial Light & Magic last month.

Director Neill Blomkamp is best known for his gritty, allegorical sci-fi films. There’s the alien apartheid District 9 (2009), working class and immigrant team-up Elysium (2013), and a look into the cyclical nature of crime in Chappie (2015). His movies create worlds that feel real, lived in, and now he’s turning his talents to the upcoming video game Off the Grid.

Rolling Stone recently spoke with the acclaimed director about his decision to step into game development and how his specific vision for politically minded science fiction is adapting to the...

Quick Links Why Neill Blomkamp Was the Ideal Director For an Alien Movie Neill Blomkamp's Alien Film Could've Been an Epic Legacy Sequel Blomkamp's Alien 5 Was Canceled During Early Development

Alien: Romulus has made quite a splash at the box office, proving that the public's interest in the Alien franchise is as strong as ever. The film serves as a midquel between the events of Ridley Scott's first film and the James Cameron sequel, Aliens. Over the past 45 years, the franchise has gone in many different directions, expanding its lore with a duology of prequel films, a duology of Predator crossovers, and even an upcoming TV series by Fargo's Emmy-winning showrunner, Noah Hawley. Aside from the hit 2014 video game, Alien: Isolation, however, there has yet to be another direct sequel that has incorporated the use of its most well-known character, Ellen Ripley. This is somewhat understandable after the...

Neill Blomkamp will follow the success of Gran Turismo with Alpha, starring Aaron Paul as an FBI agent hunting a prison inmate turned into an apex predator.

Neill Blomkamp hasn’t had a lot of luck with getting projects to the screen in the last decade. Plenty of ink has been spilled about his aborted take on Alien 5, but there’s also RoboCop Returns, the Halo film (although that project’s demise led directly to District 9) and, dare we say it, District 10.

The last project on that list may yet happen, some day. Blomkamp began talking about a sequel to his beloved science fiction movie back in 2021, with star Sharlto Copley adding a couple of years ago that it was still at least a year away from shooting. We’re now two years on and there’s still no sign of the film coming together.

Part of the...

Ridley Scott’s original Alien film set the benchmark for sci-fi storytelling. Its claustrophobic setting and practical ‘alien’ creatures led to some terrifying scenes, elevated by the performances of its lead cast. The success of the film spawned the Alien franchise and the latest installment Alien: Romulus is running successfully in theaters.

Sigourney Weaver as Ripley in Ridley Scott’s Alien | Credits: 20th Century Fox

Many filmmakers have been inspired by Scott’s Alien films and have tried to put their own spin on the human vs alien narrative. One of the most inventive entries in the 2000s was Neill Blomkamp’s District 9 which is already deemed an iconic film. Fans have been clamoring for a sequel and Blomkamp himself is hopeful that a potential District 10 will most likely get made down the line.

District 9‘s Neill Blomkamp Is Optimistic For A Potential Sequel to The Beloved...

Dev Patel’s action thriller “Monkey Man” will arrive on Peacock on June 14, the streamer announced.

The film will also get a digital release on June 11, as well as 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD versions on June 25. Those physical releases will feature an alternate opening, alternate ending and a handful of deleted or extended scenes.

“Monkey Man,” Patel’s directorial debut, world premiered at SXSW in March before landing in theaters on April 5, where it collected $34 million worldwide.

Produced by Jordan Peele, the movie follows a young man (Patel) who spends his nights at an underground fight club in India, where he makes money being beaten up by more popular fighters. After years of rage bubbling up to the surface, the man embarks on a bloody quest for revenge against the city’s shady elite, and the powerful official responsible for the murder of his mother.

Variety chief film...

Atlas is a sci-fi action thriller film directed by Brad Peyton from a screenplay by Leo Sardarian and Aron Eli Coleite. The Netflix film follows the story of Atlas Shepherd, a brilliant but unsociable data analyst with a deep distrust for A.I. as she goes on a mission to capture a rogue robot that could destroy humanity but when the mission goes and her only hope to save humanity is to trust the robot, she must break down the walls she has built around her heart over the years. Atlas stars Jennifer Lopez in the lead role with Simu Liu, Sterling K. Brown, Gregory James Cohan, Mark Strong, Abraham Popoola, and Lana Parrilla starring in supporting roles. If you loved the futuristic visuals, intense drama, and explosive action in Netflix’s Atlas here are some similar movies you could watch next.

The Creator (Hulu & Rent on Prime Video) Credit...

Some exciting Star Wars news this morning as The Mandalorian & Grogu has cast its first major supporting role. 

As per The InSneider newsletter (and confirmed by multiple trades), 3x Academy Award-nominee Sigourney Weaver has joined the cast of Disney and Lucasfilm's next Star Wars film, which is expected to begin production at the tailend of this year. 

The Mandalorian creator Jon Favreau (Iron Man; Iron Man 2; The Lion King) will helm and produce the upcoming feature, with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy and Lucasfilm chief creative officer Dave Filoni also serving as producers. 

Weaver will join a cast headlined by series leading man Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones; The Last of Us; Wonder Woman 1984), who is expected to reprise his role as Din Djarin for the film. However, the extent of his involvement is yet-to-be-determined as the 3x Primetime Emmy-nominated actor also has Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four, where he plays Reed Richards,...

Dev Patel's 2018 action movie Hotel Mumbai is now a global Netflix hit. The movie ranked No. 9 on Netflix's global weekly chart with 2.8 million viewers. The success of both movies in 2024 could mean that Dev Patel is on the verge of becoming a major action star.

Hotel Mumbai has become a global Netflix hit. The 2018 action movie stars Dev Patel as Arjun, a kitchen worker at a hotel who vows to protect the guests when terrorists strike the city. The release, which also stars Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, and Jason Isaacs, was a precursor to Patel's 2024 action movie Monkey Man, which he directed in addition to playing the lead role. The new release became a theatrical hit, earning $32.4 million worldwide against a $10 million budget that had already been offset when it was acquired by Netflix before being dropped.

Netflix has now calculated their global Top 10 chart for...

Dev Patel's directorial debut film, Monkey Man, has garnered rave reviews for his triple-threat talent as director, co-writer, and star. From Skins to Slumdog Millionaire to Lion, Dev Patel's diverse filmography showcases his remarkable acting skills and versatility. With previous action roles in films like Chappie, Hotel Mumbai, and The Green Knight, Dev Patel's experience sets the stage for Monkey Man's success.

Dev Patel seems to be setting Hollywood ablaze right now. His directorial debut film, Monkey Man, has received rave reviews from critics. Not only did Dev Patel direct Monkey Man, but he also co-wrote and starred in the film as the eponymous hero. Patel's unwavering passion for the film is conveyed in every single interview leading up to its hotly anticipated release.

Dev Patel has had an amazing career so far. Despite no formal training outside a Gcse in drama, Patel has established himself as one...

Monkey Man is directed by Actor Dev Patel and Produced by Jordan Peele ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

Dev Patel’s much-awaited directorial debut, Monkey Man, has hit silver screens worldwide except for India. Fans are disappointed and left in disarray, without confirmation of a certain release date.

Bollywood actors Sobhita Dhulipala and Sikander Kher join Patel in this Action-thriller, which the acclaimed Academy Award winner and filmmaker Jordan Peele produced.

Patel, who garnered fame and acknowledgment for Danny Boyle’s Slumdog Millionaire, has continued to deliver exceptional performances in projects like The Newsroom, Chappie, the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and The Second-best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Lion. He received nominations for Oscars and Baftas for his roles in Slumdog Millionaire and Lion, and won a BAFTA for his role in Lion.

Trending The Office (US) Co-Stars Reunite: John Krasinski Directs, & Steve Carell Acts In Upcoming Movie ‘If’ Angelina Jolie Accuses...

“The Witcher” Season 4 has cast Sharlto Copley, James Purefoy, and Danny Woodburn, Variety has learned exclusively.

Copley will play the infamous bounty hunter Leo Bonhart from “The Witcher” novels. Purefoy will play Skellen, a high-ranking spy and court advisor to Emhyr who is also a prominent figure in the novels. Woodburn will play Zoltan, a fan favorite dwarf character from the novels and “Witcher” video games.

The trio join previously announced cast members Liam Hemsworth, who takes over the lead role of Geralt of Rivia from Henry Cavill, as well as Anya Chalotra, Freya Allan, Joey Batey, and Laurence Fishburne.

Copley is best known for his breakout role in the sci-fi film “District 9.” He has since starred in features such as “The A-Team,” “Elysium,” “Chappie,” and “Hardcore Henry.” He also stars in Dev Patel’s upcoming film “Monkey Man” and appeared in multiple episodes of the Netflix series “Russian Doll.

They say “In space no one can hear you scream.” Buuuuuuuut we’ve seen through eight Alien films that if you’re in a spaceship plenty of people can hear you scream. The Xenomorphs have no problem causing their victims a lot of pain. Even though we’ve seen them in a lot of films, fans will mostly agree that after Aliens, the franchise was never the same. But did you know that District 9 director Neill Blomkamp almost made an Aliens sequel?

In 2015, filmmaker Blomkamp announced he had been working on a new Alien project. This was even a surprise to Fox, which owned the series. Fans seemed excited by the prospect of the director taking on the project after the imaginative sci-fi films he had been releasing. Ultimately, after some starts and stops, the film would fall apart. Let’s find out exactly why here on What Happened To This Unmade Movie?...

Quick Links District 10: Latest News District 10 Is Confirmed District 10: Cast District 10: Story Details District 10: Further News & Info Neill Blomkamp's District 9 was a successful sci-fi film released in 2009, and a sequel, District 10, has been discussed for years, but concrete news on its development remains scarce. Blomkamp himself has shown mixed enthusiasm for District 10, suggesting that he may not want to make it at the moment, but it may still happen down the line. The studio also doesn't seem to be pushing for its immediate production. While the cast for District 10 is uncertain, it is likely that Sharlto Copley will reprise his role as Wikus. The story details remain undisclosed, but it may explore the consequences of Christopher leaving Earth and could be inspired by a different period in history.

Neill Blomkamp's District 9 was a critical and commercial hit, and despite a sequel being rumored for years,...

Actor Dev Patel credits District 9's Neill Blomkamp with encouraging him to direct Monkey Man himself.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, following his directorial debut's SXSW premiere, Patel said that he initially wanted Blomkamp, who directed him in 2015's Chappie, to shoot Monkey Man after he completed its script. Instead, he recalled, "Me and Neill were talking, and he went, 'Man I thought you should do this. You know every corner of it.' And I was like, 'I can’t do it.' He goes, 'You can.' I reluctantly got pushed into the driver's seat."

Related 'It's Very Women-Empowered': Red Sonja Star Says Reboot Will Subvert the Original's Male-Gaze Trope Matilda Lutz shares with Cbr at SXSW what she loves most about her upcoming Red Sonja reboot.

Patel also spoke about the numerous setbacks Monkey Man faced during production, ranging from Covid-19 to a shift in filming locations...

Dev Patel is hopped up on the visual language and legacy of action cinema in Monkey Man, a walloping sucker punch of a debut feature from the star of Slumdog Millionaire and The Green Knight. Based on Patel’s original story, written alongside Paul Angunawela and John Collee, and produced by Jordan Peele through Monkeypaw Productions, the film is a blood and sweat slicked coming out party not just for a sharp new directorial talent, but a self-styled action star that no one expected.

Set in the fictional city of Yatana, Patel stars as Kid, a haunted young man who barely makes a living in an underground fighting ring. Drawing strength from the tale of Hanuman, the Hindu ape deity his mother told him tales of as a child, Kid dons a gorilla mask and takes falls against more popular fighters to make cash to scrape by. After years of suppressing his rage,...

James Bond fans are calling for Monkey Man star Dev Patel to be the next 007. Fans highlight his action chops and directorial skills showcased in Monkey Man. While Bond rumors swirl, audiences can judge Patel's potential in Monkey Man as it hits theaters next month.

Academy Award nominee Dev Patel is transformed into an action hero in this year’s Monkey Man, and many are now calling for the actor to be the next James Bond. Monkey Man finds Patel not only in the lead on screen but also taking the lead behind the camera as he makes his directorial debut with this tale of corruption and revenge. And, now that he has demonstrated his particular set of skills, Bond fans want him as the next 007 following Daniel Craig’s departure.

Known for roles across a whole host of genres in the likes of Slumdog Millionaire, Lion,...

Dev Patel's feature directorial debut "Monkey Man" hit the ground running with its world premiere at South By Southwest ... but before the movie about an underground brawler hell-bent on revenge became a reality, the actor-turned-filmmaker says it was an idea he was hesitant to bring to life himself. /Film's Ryan Scott is attending SXSW in Austin this week, where Patel spoke about how he went from an actor and co-writer on the project to the man behind the camera.

"I was just trying to find a way to tell this story," Patel explained. "I wanted it out there. Originally, I hired a friend to write it." Paul Angunawela ("Keith Lemon: The Film") and John Collee ("Hotel Mumbai") are both credited as co-writers on the final product, but initially, Patel says two of them worked on it during an intense year-long process. "I ended up co-writing it and then we,...

Flying Lotus has directed the experimental comedy Kuso and the Ozzy’s Dungeon segment of the horror anthology V/H/S/99, and next up for the rapper and filmmaker (who is a.k.a. Steven Ellison) is the sci-fi thriller Ash, starring Eiza González (Baby Driver) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad). When González and Paul were cast in the film, Flying Lotus released a statement saying, “We are building something fresh and unique with Ash and having Eiza and Aaron in this world just makes it flames. They are absolute magic makers, brave and equally inspiring. All that to say… We ‘bout to kill this shit.” And apparently they did kill it, because Deadline reports that Amazon’s Prime Video has just secured the international rights to the film in a high-seven figure pact, nearing $10 million. The film is currently in post-production, so we don’t know when Prime Video will be releasing it.

Dev Patel's upcoming action film Monkey Man draws inspiration from the John Wick franchise, showcasing similar visual aesthetics, fighting styles, and filmmaking approach. Monkey Man has the potential to be a standout among the numerous John Wick copycats, thanks to its stylized action and the involvement of producer Jordan Peele. Patel's role in Monkey Man as a first-time director and unlikely action hero could establish him as a new talent in the genre, but the film still needs to prove itself as a worthy successor to the John Wick franchise.

An upcoming action movie starring Dev Patel looks to be the perfect replacement for the John Wick franchise. While John Wick 5 is reportedly in development, it's unclear how long the Keanu Reeves franchise will continue after its anticipated 2025 or 2026 release date. Since the breakout success of the first John Wick film back in 2014, the movie series has become...

Gran Turismo is a unique video game adaptation based on the true story of Jann Mardenborough, a Gran Turismo player who became a professional race car driver. The film is directed by Neill Blomkamp and features a talented cast including Archie Madekwe, Djimon Hounsou, and Geri Halliwell. The Gran Turismo movie is part of PlayStation Productions' effort to adapt popular gaming titles into live-action projects, showcasing the incredible journey of a gamer-turned-racer.

The Gran Turismo movie is a unique video game adaptation in that it doesn’t take its story from the game itself, but rather a true story about the game. Its plot revolves around Gran Turismo player Jann Mardenborough, whose skills in the racing game take him to a string of Nissan-sponsored video game competitions. These then earn him the chance to get behind the wheel of a real race car and take those skills to an actual racetrack.

Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman and Oscar nominee actor Dev Patel will lead the cast of the horror romance film Wicker. The film follows the story of a woman who, tired of being judged by her small-minded neighbors, commissions a wicker husband in an unconventional search for love. Both Colman and Patel have impressive careers, with Colman starring in recent projects like The Crown and The Favourite, and Patel having his breakthrough in Slumdog Millionaire.

Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson will take Ursula Wills-Jones' short story to the big screen in Wicker, with Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman and Oscar nominee actor Dev Patel set to lead the horror romance tale as the central, unlikely couple. The star of The Crown and Oscar winner for The Favourite, and the star of Slumdog Millionaire will lead the cast of the film, as Variety reports.The team behind the acclaimed sci-fi comedy Save Yourselves!

Director Gareth Edwards returned after a nearly seven-year absence with his original sci-fi film "The Creator" over the weekend. It was his first movie since 2016's $1 billion hit "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," which was his second hit franchise blockbuster in a row following 2014's "Godzilla." Unfortunately, it looks like his attempt to make a massive-scale sci-fi film outside the confines of established IP isn't going to pan out, as Edwards' latest was a big letdown on opening weekend.

"The Creator" faced heavy competition as both "Saw X" and "Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie" also opened over the weekend, with "Dumb Money" additionally expanding after a few weeks in limited release. In the end, "Paw Patrol" took the top spot with a $23 million haul, while "Saw X" also had a very solid debut with $18.3 million. Sadly, that left Edwards' latest, which hails from Disney's 20th Century Studios, settling for third place with $14 million,...

The Creator explores the idea of artificial intelligence and its potential to bring about positive change, challenging the notion that AI is always a threat. The film emphasizes the bond between humans and machines, portraying a story of community and unity between the two. Compared to Chappie, The Creator lacks depth in its characterization of the AI protagonist, Alphie, and could have benefitted from further development to make her more multidimensional.

The following contains spoilers for The Creator, now playing in theaters.

One of the big draws of Gareth Edwards' The Creator is how humanity is worried about artificial intelligence taking over. It's why John David Washington's Joshua is tasked with taking out the AI's main weapon, a kid-bot named Alphie. However, Joshua begins to think twice, sensing not just sentience, but heart and a soul. It sows seeds maybe humanity's the villain, after all.

Throw in the rest...

Monday Update: It looks like Denzel Washington can now lay claim to having the 2nd biggest Labor Day box office debut, with The Equalizer 3 shooting up an estimated $42 million over the long weekend. Not bad at all if you consider that Denzel hasn’t been able to market the film due to the strike. It’s the best opening a movie’s posted since Barbenheimer, and seems likely to be the biggest until, coincidently, Denzel’s son John David Washington, opens his own potential blockbuster, The Creator, later this month.

Original Post:

Denzel Washington returned to theaters this weekend with his first ever threequel, The Equalizer 3, which saw an opening weekend of $34.5 million and a 4-day expected to hit $42 million, slightly above where we predicted it on Thursday. That number securely makes it the second highest grossing Labor Day release of all time behind Marvel’s Shang-Chi and...

Neill Blomkamp's District 9 was a successful sci-fi film released in 2009, and a sequel, District 10, has been discussed for years, but concrete news on its development remains scarce. Blomkamp himself has shown mixed enthusiasm for District 10, suggesting that he may not want to make it at the moment, but it may still happen down the line. The studio also doesn't seem to be pushing for its immediate production. While the cast for District 10 is uncertain, it is likely that Sharlto Copley will reprise his role as Wikus. The story details remain undisclosed, but it may explore the consequences of Christopher leaving Earth and could be inspired by a different period in history.

Neill Blomkamp's District 9 was a critical and commercial hit when it was released over a decade ago, and despite a sequel being rumored for years, there's been a distinct lack of concrete District 10...

As Gran Turismo is finally in theaters, director Neill Blomkamp shared the story of how he came to be involved with the film.

In an interview with The Wrap, the director, best known for the dystopian sci-fi film District 9, admitted to not being very keen on Sony's idea to adapt the video game film, quoting, “There’s no way that you can make a movie out of Gran Turismo. It doesn’t make any sense.” Blomkamp revealed that after a mixed reception of his film Chappie, also a sci-fi dystopian film, he went on to explore different ventures through Oats Studios, creating visually striking short films. Although the shorts could lay the groundwork for future films, Blomkamp revealed their alignment with the video game industry.

Related: Gran Turismo Speeding Past Barbie After Major Boost on Opening Day

Simultaneously, his involvement with potential projects in the Alien and RoboCop universes also faced setbacks.

Neill Blomkamp had plans for a canceled Robocop sequel, titled Robocop Returns, which would have been a direct follow-up to the original film. Blomkamp intended to emulate the directing style of Paul Verhoeven and wanted the sequel to feel like it took place the day after the events of the first movie. Blomkamp's film Chappie, released in 2015, shares thematic similarities with Robocop, featuring a consciousness trapped in a mechanical body in a dystopian setting.

Neill Blomkamp details the plans he had for his canceled Robocop sequel. Released in 1987, Paul Verhoeven’s original vision of a cyborg cop cleaning up dystopian Detroit became a smash at the box office, and went on to be considered one of the true classics of 1980s action. The film would later get a pair of poorly-regarded sequels, followed by a pair of short-lived TV series. Much later, Robocop would be remade, but critics and audiences...

South African filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has directed five major feature films to date: the Oscar-nominated "District 9" in 2009, the class-conscious sci-fi tragedy "Elysium" in 2013, the oddball "Short Circuit"/"RoboCop" mashup "Chappie" in 2015, the low-budget stinker "Demonic" in 2021, and now the video-game-adjacent biography "Gran Turismo" in 2023.

With the exception of "Demonic," each of Blomkamp's films is explicitly or implicitly about class. "District 9" is about alien visitors who are forced to live in a run-down shanty town outside of Johannesburg. "Elysium" features a posh space station where the wealthy live in comfort while the impoverished live on the overheated, overpopulated Earth below. "Chappie" is an Acab movie about a police robot coming to fight for the people and against its corporate creators. 

"Gran Turismo," meanwhile, is about Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), an expert player of the titular racing video game, who is tapped by Nissan to become a race car driver for real.

Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo races into theaters this week. It’s a video game adaptation, but an interesting twist on one. It’s also a change of pace for the filmmaker, as he’s known for his career in sci-fi movies with social messages. Blomkamp hit instant recognition for his debut with District 9, and his filmography since has been divisive. However, the filmmaker had set his sights on a couple of franchises that he was once attached to, then both ultimately fell through. Most famously, he was to helm an Alien 5 sequel off the strength of his proposed concept art. Then, he was slated to make a direct sequel to Robocop until that project fell by the wayside as well.

His Alien 5 was jettisoned in favor of Ridley Scott, the director of the original 1979 film, when he decided to pursue his sequel to Prometheus, which also served as an Alien prequel.

Neill Blomkamp’s Gran Turismo is unlike most video game movies. It’s actually the true story of Jann Mardenborough (played here by Archie Madekwe), a gifted Gran Turismo player who parlayed his skills into a professional race car driving career. It’s a fascinating tale that’s anchored by Madekwe and co-star David Harbour’s performances, as well as Blomkamp’s immersive style. We actually had a chance recently to sit down with the director and talk about his latest, which is a pretty huge departure from his earlier work like District 9, Elysium or Chappie.

One of the things that I guess I found most refreshing about Gran Turismo is that when you think of a video game movie, you don’t often think of the term based on a true story.

Nb: I think that was one of the main things that drew me to it. It...

Warning: This article contains spoilers (and not the ones you find on cars) for "Gran Turismo."

In many ways, the most shocking thing about "Gran Turismo," the based-on-a-true-story sports drama/biopic of how Jann Mardenborough transformed from a gamer to a full-fledged racer, is the fact that such a grounded and straightforward film ended up with director Neill Blomkamp ("District 9," "Elysium," and "Chappie") behind the wheel. Competently directed and following much of the same formula as several other films in this genre have done before (you can check out my comprehensive review for /Film here), "Gran Turismo" wouldn't seem like the obvious choice to act as a lightning rod for potential controversy. An obsessive racing simulation gamer enters a competition, qualifies for Gt Academy, and relies on the support of friends, family, peers, and his trainer to become an actual, professional driver. Simple enough, no?

Well, it is, aside...

Hey, as the Summer movie season races (hint) to that Labor Day finish line (again), the studios aren’t quite done with toy-based stories. In that aspect, a new box office champ has been crowned with the “pink princess” zooming past those video game plumbing icons. Now, this new release leans into the latter’s territory as its roots are in the gaming world. Oh, and like the “under the radar” Tetris flick, it is actually based on a true story, This isn’t a twist on the old “Cold War Cloak and Daggar” thriller like that one or even an “origin story” of the game’s creation. Instead, this is closer to an old-fashioned, grit and glory, sports underdog fable, Yes sports, as we follow one determined young man whose dreams become reality when he enters the world of Gran Turismo.

I should clarify that the film does begin...

Neill Blomkamp is back.

The director, best known for a trio of films that effortlessly blend startling futurism with barbed social commentary, has returned with “Gran Turismo,” his first studio film since 2015’s “Chappie” and his first movie since the pandemic-shot, micro-budgeted “Demonic” in 2021. And it marks a kinder, gentler Blomkamp. All of his filmmaking hallmarks are still there, from elaborately staged action sequences to relatable characters to the kind of camerawork that captures the immediacy of real life, but this time it’s in serve of an elegant – and, crucially, feel-good – sports movie.

Based on a true story about the PlayStation video game franchise, “Gran Turismo” follows Jann Mardenborough (Archie Madekwe), a young, working-class Englishman who wins a “Gran Turismo” tournament that allows him to become a real-life racecar driver. That’s when he starts to bond with David Harbour’s Jack Salter, his flinty (but still caring) trainer.

Alien 5 director Neill Blomkamp shuts down any conversation about the scrapped project, saying he doesn't care about what happens with Alien. Blomkamp, known for his work in the science-fiction genre, gained fame with his directorial feature debut in District 9 and has since directed other sci-fi films. Blomkamp's Alien 5, initially slated for a 2017 release, was cancelled by Fox after the disappointing reception of Alien: Covenant, and Disney is now pursuing its own plans for Alien 5.

One-time Alien 5 director shuts down any conversation surrounding the scrapped Alien film in an interview. The first Alien movie was released in 1979 to massive acclaim, spawning the sequel Aliens in 1986. Since then, Alien has become a franchise with four installments in the main series and multiple spinoffs and prequels, including Alien vs. Predator (2004) and Prometheus. Though in talks for years, Alien has yet to receive a fifth entry in its original series, and Gran Turismo...

After two dismal weekends at the box office, any chance of things recovering for the last weekend of August doesn’t seem likely, although one daring movie (and this year’s “National Cinema Day“) will try to make an impact. Read on for Gold Derby’s box office preview.

On Sunday, August 27, many North American theaters will be offering $4 movie tickets in hopes of keeping the burst of movie attendance thanks to “Barbenheimer” going into September. It will be hard to tell what sort of effect it has this year, because studio estimates on Sunday might not be able to account for any bump from National Cinema Day.

With that in mind, Sony is releasing the racing movie “Gran Turismo,” which isn’t based on the Sony Playstation driving simulator as much as it tells the true story of Jann Mardenborough, as played by Archie Madekwe (“Midsommar”), a gamer whose...

Director Neill Blomkamp burst onto the scene all the way back in 2009 with "District 9." 14 years later, it remains one of the most beloved feature directorial debuts in recent memory — if not ever. The problem for Blomkamp is that he's yet to have an unqualified hit ever since his first film became a smash, taking in $210 million worldwide against a $30 million budget, en route to a Best Picture Oscar nomination. But Blomkamp is getting another shot at the big time with his latest film, "Gran Turismo." Part video game adaptation, part biopic, the filmmaker is looking to break his mixed bag of a streak. Can this be the movie to get the job done?

Box Office Pro currently has "Gran Turismo" taking in anywhere between $17 and $22 million on its opening weekend domestically. The movie was initially supposed to come out much earlier in August but was pushed back a couple...

Neill Blomkamp's "District 9" put the fledgling South African director on the mainstream map in 2009. With a $30 million budget and "The Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson in his corner as a producer, Blomkamp expanded his fascinating social sci-fi short film "Alive in Joburg" into a feature-length discussion about racial divisions and the violence inherent in anti-immigration sentiments.

Wikus van de Merwe (Sharlto Copley) learns in the hardest way possible what South Africa's alien newcomers, derisively called "prawns," have been going through at the hands of men like him. With stunning effects and CGI characters, the film ends on a tailor-made hook for a follow-up. His ally, the alien Christopher Johnson (Jason Cope), promises to return with a cure for Wikus in three years, although it's unclear if he'll also return with an angry force at his back. Meanwhile, a fully transformed Wikus languishes at the new District 10 camp,...

District 9 director Neill Blomkamp’s true-life tale is unable to swerve the cliches yet delivers pedal-to-the-metal entertainment

South African-Canadian director Neill Blomkamp arrived with a bang in 2009 thanks to District 9, an urgent sci-fi fable that used modern fears of extraterrestrial invaders to tell an old-as-time story of racism and segregation. Blomkamp’s interest in wryly satirical socioeconomic sci-fi continued through the big-budget ecocide parable Elysium (2013) and the altogether more anarchically scrappy Chappie (2015) in which a sentient armoured police robot is led into a life of crime.

On the surface, this “based on a true story” account of video gamer turned race car driver Jann Mardenborough may seem like a left turn for a film-maker whose career has been built on adventurous fantasy. But if the story of a Darlington-born son of a former professional footballer parlaying video-gaming skills into international racetrack success is not the stuff of fantasy,...

While writer-director Neill Blomkamp’s expertise with genre material — from his international breakthrough, sci-fi revelation District 9 (2009), to dystopian dramas Elysium (2013) and Chappie (2015) — makes him a good fit for an action-oriented sports biopic, it’s perhaps his background as a visual effects artist that proves his greatest asset in bringing Gran Turismo to the screen.

Marshaling a well-integrated combination of innovative digital camera techniques, compelling production design choices and an impressive visual style, Blomkamp’s visceral directing emphatically reinforces the film’s dynamic pacing.

Since it’s “based on a true story” (as the title insistently emphasizes), there’s limited potential for dramatic license with the available material. And while subject Jann Mardenborough has an inspiring backstory, the filmmakers don’t manage to wring much tension from a series of fairly predictable plot developments. But video game enthusiasts, including a sizable audience of Gran Turismo devotees and motorsports fans motivated...

Chappie 2 is highly unlikely to happen due to the box office underperformance of the first movie, which failed to turn a profit. Director Neill Blomkamp has ruled out a sequel to Chappie, acknowledging the movie's failure and its impact on his career. The inclusion of controversial rap duo Die Antwoord in the original Chappie is another reason why a sequel is unlikely, as their alleged abusive behavior has tarnished their reputation and would deter any major Hollywood studio from working with them.

While fans might be clamoring for more of the self-aware robot, there's a reason why Chappie 2 will never happen. Neill Blomkamp made a huge impression with his wildly ambitious 2009 debut District 9 which managed to combine gory action and fantastic effects while examining topics like xenophobia and racism through a sci-fi lens. The movie also introduced audiences to the mad genius of leading man Sharlto Copley. Blomkamp and...