Sigourney Weaver is already a beloved icon of sci-fi, but she’s adding another one to her long list of credits in that genre. The Oscar nominated actress has been cast in South African director Neill Blomkamp's third feature, Chappie.
Variety confirmed the news today. She is just the latest star to sign on for the project, which already stars Slumdog Millionaire’s Dev Patel and Hugh Jackman.
Sharlto Copley, who has appeared in Blomkamp’s previous two films, will voice the title character. THR notes that Chappie is a robot who was kidnapped when he was ‘born’ and later adopted by a dysfunctional family. Production has already started, although there is no target release date.
Sony is producing Chappie. The studio previously worked with Blomkamp on this year’s Elysium, which starred Matt Damon and Jodie Foster.
Blomkamp shot onto the scene with the 2009 surprise hit District 9, which wound up earning a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars. Elysium, which was released this past summer, has grossed $280 million worldwide.
Weaver is set to appear in Avatar 2 and is currently working on Ridley Scott’s Exodus.
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