Elysium , Neill Blomkamp's first feature since District 9 , has been on the slate for quite some time, but up until now, the director has kept plot details very close to his chest.
All we've had to go on thus far is that the film is another sci-fi, with Matt Damon playing the leading role (for which he can be seen sporting a shaven head) and Jodie Foster appearing as the head of an off-world state.
However, that's all about to change with the release of a new synopsis that gives a full and thorough outline of what we can expect from the director's sophomore feature.
"In the year 2159 two classes of people exist," begins the blurb. "The very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium.
"That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarised worlds."
It sounds as though Blomkamp will be exploring similar themes to those dealt with by District 9 , using a sci-fi backdrop to kick-start a socio-political discussion about the haves and have-nots of this world. That said, we're sure there will be plenty of action in there too! Elysium will open in the UK on 1 March 2013.
