Following his fame in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jackson produced an iconic 2009 science-fiction film called District 9, and even after 16 years… we still haven’t got a sequel.
With Neill Blomkamp (Elysium, Chappie, Gran Turismo) helming the film as its writer-director, District 9 is one of the greatest sci-fi films ever made and bereft of a sequel. Many fans might not have seen this nostalgic flick from 2009, so here’s a brief rundown on why District 9 was considered a sci-fi landmark after its release.
Why District 9 Is Considered a Sci-Fi Landmark Even After 16 Years
The genius of this movie lies in the simple fact that, despite being a film from 2009, its core theme of highlighting the issues seems prominent as ever. The film had an unflinching portrayal since the story was set in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The aliens were “displaced” in a slum-like area, while the “Prawns” were stand-ins for the marginalized and oppressed people. The relocation of District 9 to District 10 was inspired by real-life events. The film had a mockumentary feel to it, and the found-footage camera angle made the events feel more real and life-like.
Unlike other sci-fi movies where aliens have high-tech machines and weaponry, the visuals of the alien tech depicted a crude and scrappy tech that alluded to the fact that it was built by collecting scraps rather than with clean tech.
Aside from the core theme that talked about the struggles of real-world life, the film’s protagonist was a flawed character who eventually transformed into an alien. Following his physical transformation, the character was able to understand everything that the oppressed aliens went through and the discrimination that they faced.
With Peter Jackson helming the movie as its producer, District 9 was made with a relatively lower budget than most sci-fi flicks. Despite the low budget, the film had some spectacular CGI effects, which gave it a new sense of realism.
Hence, if you haven’t watched District 9, we highly recommend that you watch it. If you have already watched the 2009 film, what’s the holdup with the sequel?
What Has Neill Blomkamp Said About District 10?
Director Neill Blomkamp has often and publicly talked about his plans to make a sequel to his highly acclaimed movie. Ever since 2009, the film has been in talks and in developmental hell, but nothing has come out of it yet.
In his latest statement about the sequel (which was in 2023), Neill Blomkamp told The Hollywood Reporter while promoting his 2023 flick, Gran Turismo.
I don’t know if it’s getting made or not. I don’t know if I even want to make that right now, but at some point down the line, it’ll probably get made.
So, rather than an immediate sequel, District 10 is now like a dream project for Blomkamp that the writer/director wants to make at some point in his life. That could mean from the next two years to anywhere in time, but fans of the film remain ever hopeful.
What are your thoughts about the 2009 flick? Share them in the comments below.
District 9 is available to stream on Hulu (USA).
