Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel is reportedly in the early stages of negotiations to star in Elysium director Neill Blomkamp’s next film, Chappie.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film is based on a short Blomkamp made in 2004 called Tetra Vaal. It’s a fake advertisement for robots patrolling South African slums. Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell are expanding the story for the film and Simon Kinberg is producing. MRC, one of the producers on Elysium, is also backing Chappie.
The Wrap reports that Sharlto Copley has also signed on to star as one of the robots.
Patel starred in Danny Boyle’s Best Picture Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire in 2008 and recently starred in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. He also stars on HBO’s The Newsroom, which kicks off its second season on July 14. He's also appeared in About Cherry and The Last Airbender.
Blomkamp is best known for his debut feature, District 9, a surprise hit that was nominated for Best Picture. He teamed up with Matt Damon and Jodie Foster for Elysium, another sci-fi film, which opens on Aug. 9. Copley has starred in District 9 and has a part in Elysium.
image: Wikimedia Commons/Ping Foo
