Hugh Jackman heading to SA
Hold onto your hearts girls, the hunky Hugh Jackman will be heading our way soon…
Okay by “soon” I mean next year and by “our way” I mean Joburg. Jackman has confirmed that he’s signed up Neill Blomkamp’s new sci-fi thriller Chappie.
Neill Blomkamp is the SA-born filmmaker who took Hollywood by storm with the Joburg-based sci-fi adventure District 9. His latest offering was the Matt Damon-starrer, Elysium.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Zurich Film Festival, 44-year old Jackman said: ''I am doing a role in Neill's new film, called 'Chappie', which we shoot in Johannesburg. I'm there for a couple of weeks at the beginning of next year.''
He joins Sharlto Copley, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Slumdog Millionaire star Dev Patel who have all signed up for Chappie. Patel will play the lead. Die Antwoord’s Yolandi Vi$$ser and Ninja will also have roles.
Details about Chappie are being shrouded in secrecy, but it's thought the futuristic movie - which is based on a short film Blomkamp made in 2004, titled 'Tetra Vaal' - will take place in and around Joburg where robotic police officers patrol the area. Patel will play an impoverished young man in the city, while regular Blomkamp collaborator Copley - who has appeared in 'District 9' and 'Elysium' - will play one of the police robots.
If you’ve never seen the trailer for Blomkamps’ Tetra Vaal, here it is…