Though I could be wrong, I suspect that a film like District 9 could've been a difficult proposition -- on paper -- for any studio to get behind.
Why do I say such a thing for a highly regarded Science Fiction gem?
Studios -- and storytellers, occasionally -- do not like to mix formulas all that often, and -- in case you've not seen the motion picture -- roughly the first half of it is told in a mockumtary format. This arrival of aliens to our planet unfurls in documentary style, and there's a good deal of unintended humor to it. However, at one point, that narrative structure goes completely away; and it becomes one of the big screens most profound explorations of the human spirit -- in an alien guise -- that perhaps we've seen in some time. In fact, writer/director Neill Blomkamp has long promised a follow-up to this early picture in his career; while he's gone on to a good deal of lackluster flicks, I'd love to see him revisit this if for no other reason to resolve that story thread left dangling in the feature's closing moments.
Of course, it goes without saying that any revisitation to the world as created in the original is a pretty significant risk. The first was done to well and resonated with so many who saw it on so many levels that a cheap, quick, and dirty attempt would likely leave viewers with a bad taste in their mouths not only for the follow-up but could tarnish the charm of the predecessor. Having done a bit of searching online regarding the status for what's been rumored to be 'District 10,' I think it's still safe to say that Blomkamp hasn't been entirely successful in getting something off the ground. At times, he's said (in 2021) that a smaller, less theatrical script was in development; but now I'm seeing indications that Sony -- the studio almost always associated with the follow-up -- was wanting something bigger. From an article I found published in May of 2023, there's still no indication of a project being greenlit.
Why do I say such a thing for a highly regarded Science Fiction gem?
Studios -- and storytellers, occasionally -- do not like to mix formulas all that often, and -- in case you've not seen the motion picture -- roughly the first half of it is told in a mockumtary format. This arrival of aliens to our planet unfurls in documentary style, and there's a good deal of unintended humor to it. However, at one point, that narrative structure goes completely away; and it becomes one of the big screens most profound explorations of the human spirit -- in an alien guise -- that perhaps we've seen in some time. In fact, writer/director Neill Blomkamp has long promised a follow-up to this early picture in his career; while he's gone on to a good deal of lackluster flicks, I'd love to see him revisit this if for no other reason to resolve that story thread left dangling in the feature's closing moments.
Of course, it goes without saying that any revisitation to the world as created in the original is a pretty significant risk. The first was done to well and resonated with so many who saw it on so many levels that a cheap, quick, and dirty attempt would likely leave viewers with a bad taste in their mouths not only for the follow-up but could tarnish the charm of the predecessor. Having done a bit of searching online regarding the status for what's been rumored to be 'District 10,' I think it's still safe to say that Blomkamp hasn't been entirely successful in getting something off the ground. At times, he's said (in 2021) that a smaller, less theatrical script was in development; but now I'm seeing indications that Sony -- the studio almost always associated with the follow-up -- was wanting something bigger. From an article I found published in May of 2023, there's still no indication of a project being greenlit.
Lastly, I think even actor Sharlto Copley has both talked up the prospects for a sequel as well as hinting at some frustrations with Blomkamp's inability to be honest with all involved about the project. Will it happen? Or will it be forever relegated to that growing stockpile of sequels that just never -- for whatever reason -- transpired? It would be sad, true, if we were never given the proper closure to the story ... but viewers have been left with unanswered questions with far too many Science Fiction and Fantasy projects over the decades ... so buckle up for the long haul, folks.
As always, thanks for reading ... and live long and prosper!
-- EZ
-- EZ
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