First look at Matt Damon in Elysium

Elysium has released the first official still of star Matt Damon, who's sporting a new shaven-headed look for Neil Blomkamp's return to the world of science-fiction.

The director's first film since District 9 , Elysium will be set in 2159, another dystopian future in which two classes of people exist: the wealthy inhabitants of the man-made space station Elysium, and the damned masses still living on a ruined, overpopulated Earth.

While Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster) is busy devising ever more stringent immigration methods, Earth's disenfranchised masses continue to try and sneak into Elysium's rarified environment.

Which side Damon's character Max falls on has yet to be confirmed, but what we do know is that he becomes part of a dangerous mission that if successful, will save his life and possibly bring equality to the two disparate communities.

Damon's makeover looks pretty badass to us, with the star looking intimidating in both bulk and appearance. Although having him carry a massive gun obviously helps on that front.

The first official footage from the film airs at Comic-Con next week, so hopefully the plot should become a little more crystallised then. Co-starring Sharlto Copley, William Fichtner and Diego Luna, Elysium will open in the UK on 1 March 2013.

George Wales

George was once GamesRadar's resident movie news person, based out of London. He understands that all men must die, but he'd rather not think about it. But now he's working at Stylist Magazine.