Some may argue that Neill Blomkamp has been a director of diminishing returns, following the critical reception of Elysium and, more recently, Chappie. But take nothing away from the South African director’s breakout hit, District 9, which wowed audiences back in 2009 with its astute social commentary and sci-fi aesthetic.
It’s a fictional universe that is evidently still in the mind of Blomkamp, who revealed to IGN that he has an early but “really cool” idea for a possible sequel.
“I have an idea for District 10, which is really cool” Blomkamp revealed. “The problem is I feel like Chappie is the end of three films that have a similar stylistic approach to them. Chappie is the odd one out in that is has no socio-political underpinnings. It doesn’t have my experiences as a kid in South Africa incorporated into it. And Elysium – although it doesn’t have my experiences as a kid in South Africa, it has the same notion of oppressor in the elites, and the large population base beneath it.
And Chappie doesn’t, but they are still part of a trilogy. So moving forward I would love to realise this idea of District 10 – I have every intention to do it, I just need to find the right time to do it – to not go back to Johannesburg and shoot something similar, yet. I think that the story that I have now is what I would want to see as a fan of the first film, I think. I know I would want to see it – I assume other people would. It’s good man!”
Given their similarities both in style and content, it’s interesting to see that Blomkamp considers his three projects as an unofficial trilogy — much like Edgar Wright’s Three Flavors Cornetto trio, only with grimy machines and social commentary in lieu of zombies and ice cream.
But what do you make of the director’s comments regarding a potential District 9 follow-up? Would you rather Blomkamp move on to pastures anew? Let us know below.