Sci-fi movie icon Sigourney Weaver has joined the cast of Neill Blomkamp’s new film “Chappie,” which has started production in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sony Pictures and Media Rights Capital announced Monday.
The two companies are co-producing and co-financing the sci-fi movie, which will be marketed and distributed worldwide by Sony.
After being kidnapped by two criminals during birth, a prodigal robot named Chappie is adopted by a strange and dysfunctional family.
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Sharlto Copley, who starred in Blomkamp’s “District 9” and “Elysium,” will voice the role of Chappie. Weaver joins Hugh Jackman and Dev Patel in the film, as well as Ninja, Yolandi Visser, Jose Pablo Cantillo and Brandon Auret.
Blomkamp will direct “Chappie” from a screenplay he wrote with Terri Tatchell. Blomkamp will also produce the film with Simon Kinberg. The duo previously teamed with Bill Block to produce Sony and MRC’s “Elysium,” which has grossed an estimated $283 million worldwide to date.
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Hannah Minghella and Rachel O’Connor will oversee “Chappie” for Sony, while Brye Adler will oversee for MRC.