Hugh Jackman has confirmed himself that he will star in the next science fiction film from South African director Neill Blomkamp, Chappie.
The Prisoners actor had attended the Zurich Film Festival this weekend, where he was receiving the Golden Icon Award, reports Screen Daily. While there, Jackman said that it was true that he has a role in Chappie.
“I am doing a role in Neill’s new film, called Chappie, which we shoot in Johannesburg,” Jackman said. “I’m there for a couple of weeks at the beginning of next year.”
Chappie will be the third feature from Blomkamp, who directed District 9 and Elysium. While Elysium didn’t quite live up to the hype after District 9, Sony said last month that it will still co-finance Chappie. Elysium cost $115 million to make, but has only grossed $91.8 million since its August release.
Chappie is said to be based on a fake commercial Blomkamp made in 2004 about robots patrolling South african slums. So far, the cast also includes Dev Patel, Sharlto Copley and Jose Pablo Cantillo, reports The Hollywood Reporter.
While speaking at the Zurich festival, Jackman also gave updates on other projects. He gave a positive update on the P.T. Barnum biopic The Greatest Showman on Earth, but said that the Western Unbound Captives hasn’t been able to get off the ground. He also said that he’ll make a decision soon about going to Broadway to star in Houdini.
image: Warner Bros.