Set in the near future, crime is patrolled by a harsh mechanized police force. But when a police droid named Chappie is taken and re-programmed, he begins to think and feel for the first time in his existence. Now seen as a threat, our robotic hero must now choose where it will stand as the oppressed population begins to stand up for themselves.
Shot in Johnannesburg, South Africa, Chappie stars Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire), Academy Award nominees Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver, and Sharlto Copley (The A-Team) as the voice of the titular character.
Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp’s previous directing credits include District 9 (2009) and Elysium (2013). On February 18th, 2015, it was confirmed that he would be directing the fifth installment in the Alien franchise, due out sometime in 2017.
Prior to directing feature films, Blomkamp worked as a 3D animator on the television series’ Stargate SG-1 (1997) and Smallville (2001), as well as lead animator for the pilot of Dark Angel (2000) and lead 3D animator on the film 3000 Miles to Graceland (2001).
With a screenplay by Blomkamp and his wife Terri Tatchell, Chappie is based on the short film Tetra Vaal (2004), written and directed by Blomkamp.
Chappie’s behind the scenes creative team included director of photography Trent Opaloch (Captain America: The Winter Soldier), production designer Jules Cook, editors Julian Clarke (District 9, Elysium) and Mark Goldblatt (Terminator 2: Judgement Day), and costume designer Dianna Cilliers (The Giver), with a musical score by Hanz Zimmer (The Dark Knight Trilogy).
Directed by Neill Blomkamp and distributed by Columbia Pictures, Chappie, a Media Rights Capital production, is slated to hit theaters everywhere on March 6th, 2015.
