Neill Blomkamp Wanted Eminem as 'Elysium' Lead, Has a Plan for 'District 10' and Passed on 'Star Wars'

When director Neill Blomkamp burst on the scene with District 9, he did so with a movie carried by Sharlto Copley, and actor who Hollywood never pictured as a blockbuster lead. It was a bit of a surprise when we learned that Elysium, his District 9 follow-up, would star Matt Damon. There are few bigger stars than Damon, which made him seem out of place in a Blomkamp film.

In an interview with Wired, the director revealed that Damon wasn't his original choice for the Elysium role, with rapper Eminem actually being offered the role. It turns out Eminem was interested, but "only if the shoot took place in his hometown of Detroit." Elysium wound up getting shot in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Mexico City, so no Eminem.

During the interview, Blomkamp also tipped his hand on the status of a District 9 sequel:

He and Tatchell have written an 18-page treatment for District 10—about which he’ll say little more than that the story is “really fucking cool”—but he’s not prepared to commit to it. He’s sure he’ll come up with any number of other really fucking cool ideas he might want to pursue first.

I would love to see District 10 happen, especially since Blomkamp is excited about the idea. If a studio were to just go ahead with the project, I'd rather not have it happen.

Way back in October when Star Wars: Episode VII was announced, Popculturology offered our list of five directors who should lead the future of Star Wars, with Blomkamp being on that list. With District 9, the director proved that he could deliver a science-fiction film that was set in a dirty, used universe. It looks like we weren't the only ones who thought Blomkamp would be perfect for the job, as Wired also reported that Star Wars screenwriter Simon Kingberg approached Blomkamp about working on Star Wars. Blomkamp "turned down the possibility of working on a new Star Wars movie after the subject was “gingerly” broached by Elysium producer and close friend Simon Kinberg, who's deeply involved in the revitalized franchise." Maybe someday.