Sigourney Weaver has been added to the cast of Neill Blomkamp's next movie Chappie.

The Alien actress joins the cast just as production on the film is set to begin, The Hollywood Reporter notes.
The movie is being produced through a partnership with Media Rights Capital and Sony Pictures.

Chappie is about a boy who is kidnapped by two criminals as he is born. Chappie is a gifted kid, who it turns out is also a robot.

Others cast for the film include Hugh Jackman, who confirmed the news himself back in September. "I am doing a role in Neill's new film, called Chappie, which we shoot in Johannesburg."

The movie was announced in August just before the premiere of Elysium. Columbia Pictures President Doug Belgrad said, "We're huge fans of Neill Bomkamp - it' a real thrill to be continuing our relationship with such a visionary and important filmmaker."

Including Weaver and Jackman, Dev Patel, Ninja and Yolandi Visser will also appear. Sharlto Copley will voice Chappie.

Weaver last appeared in the USA Network mini-series Political Animals in 2012 and is also in the upcoming Avatar 2.

image: NBCUniversal