Matt Damon is in early talks to join Sharlto Copley in Neill Blomkamp's secretive sci-fi movie "Elysium," TheWrap has learned.
MRC is producing Blomkamp's follow-up to "District 9" and plans to take the project to distributors next year once Damon's deal closes and other cast members sign on.
It's been years since Damon has agreed to work with a director as young as Blomkamp, as the Oscar winner has preferred to put his trust in veteran filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese ("The Departed"), Clint Eastwood ("Invictus," "Hereafter"), Paul Greengrass ("Green Zone," Bourne 2 & 3), Steven Soderbergh (the "Ocean's" trilogy, "The Informant," the upcoming "Contagion" and "Liberace") and the Coen brothers, whose "True Grit" will be released by Paramount on Dec. 22.
Blomkamp is perhaps the latest addition to Hollywood's A-list of directors because he can get just about any movie greenlit on the strength of the surprise worldwide success of "District 9," which was nominated for Best Picture last year. Blomkamp doesn't have as proven a track record as those other filmmakers, but he's a safe bet behind the camera and one that could pay off for Damon, who could use a hit after "Green Zone" and "Hereafter" disappointed at the domestic box office.
Damon previously worked with MRC on "The Adjustment Bureau," which Universal will release on March 4.
Damon is represented by WME and his casting was first reported by Deadline.
