Two great things did come out of the Halo production. We first got some badass Halo shorts that were created in anticipation of the release of Halo 3, and they were sweet. Seriously, if this is what can be made on a minimal budget, just imagine a feature film. Second we have Neill Blomkamp, the commercial director who was supposed to be making his feature directing debut with Halo.
Well, Jackson is tired of waiting, and has taken Blomkamp over to District 9.
Jackson and Blomkamp Try Another Sci-Fi
Blomkamp's feature directing debut will now be District 9, a live-action sci-fi actioner. Peter Jackson, though busy with The Lovely Bones, will produce.
So who is funding this shindig? QED Intl. has committed to fully finance the film, with Jackson's WETA Workshop standing by to create the necessary visual effects.
"We jumped at the opportunity to greenlight this movie with our facility, and we hope to engage selected distributors to be our partners on this," said QED CEO Bill Block.
Though there isn't a studio showing interest yet, expect there to be offers to distribute shortly. Not only does the production come with Jackson and Blomkamp, but the WGA strike will help draw interest from studios hoping to fill out their release schedules.
Jackson and Blomkamp came up with District 9 when working together on Halo. Though production on the video game adaptation was halted, Blomkamp never left.
"For the last year, my team and I have had the pleasure of working very closely with Neill," Jackson said. "He has a passion and a command of the language of cinema that will result in District 9 fascinating people all over the world."
Blomkamp will film District 9 down in South Africa.
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