Idris Elba’s chances of playing James Bond may not be looking so good these days, but the actor’s got bigger fish to fry in his latest project — specifically, the king of the jungle. Beast stars Elba as Nate Samuels, who takes his daughters on a trip to South Africa following the death of his wife. The family soon finds themselves being stalked by a huge, deadly lion and in a fight for their lives. Critics have screened the movie ahead of its August 19 theatrical release, so let’s see what they have to say.

Alongside Idris Elba, Beast stars Iyana Halley (This Is Us, Abbott Elementary) and Leah Jeffries (Empire) as Nate’s daughters Mere and Norah, respectively. Sharlto Copley plays Martin Battles, who welcomes the family to his wildlife reserve. Let’s get right to the critics’ thoughts, starting with CinemaBlend’s review of Beast. Eric Eisenberg rates the movie 2.5 stars out of 5, saying the escape scenes are exciting and well-done, but the film lags too much when the beast isn’t around. He says:

Kate Erbland of IndieWire isn’t quite on board either with this man vs. beast tale, grading it a C, despite its promising concept (Idris Elba fights a lion? I’m down.). The opening sequence, while wildly entertaining, invokes too much sympathy for the antagonist, and the characters make frustratingly cliched horror movie decisions, she says: 

William Bibbiani of The Wrap says there are certainly worse ways to spend 93 minutes, but the movie overall lacks substance — except when it comes to the cinematography. From the review: 

Brian Truitt of USA TODAY seems in line with other critics, rating Beast 2.5 out of 4 stars. The writer calls the movie “tolerable,” and says the CGI beast is “not bad,” which are lukewarm compliments, and likely a far cry from words one would prefer to see describing their film, even if we are in the dregs of summer.  The critics says:

Josh Spiegel of SlashFilm rates the movie 5 out of 10, but says Beast delivers exactly what it promises: Idris Elba fighting a lion with his bare hands. It’s a ridiculous movie based on a ridiculous notion, and it fits right in with summertime movie fare, the critic says:

Does Beast sound like something you might want to check out? If so, you can catch it in theaters beginning Friday, August 19. Also check out some of Idris Elba’s other upcoming projects, and start planning your next trip to the theater with our 2022 Movie Release Schedule.

A high-concept thriller like Baltasar Kormákur's Beast really only has two primary jobs – a result of working with a boiled down premise. The characters have to be interesting and engaging, keeping the audience invested in their plight and survival, and the threat that they are facing has to maintain constant pressure that the protagonists and audience feel even when it isn’t represented on screen and in your face. The great news about the new film is that it has all of the proper pieces in play, featuring a small ensemble getting attacked by a wild, massive lion while on safari, but the problem is utilization, as this is an August release that does far too much ebbing and flowing for its own good. It creates an uneven experience that delivers solid creature feature highs, but also some dull lows.

Beast knows that its greatest asset is its feral wildcat, and it doesn’t quite know what to do with itself when it’s not around. It leaves a lot on the table when it comes to the perils of being stranded in the middle of an African savannah with no communication available, and is satisfied doing the minimum when it comes to what could be called “human stuff” in the context of the material.

Written by Ryan Engle and based on a story by Jaime Primak Sullivan, Beast stars Idris Elba as Nate Samuels, a doctor who makes an effort to try an reconnect with his two daughters, Norah (Leah Jeffries) and Mere (Iyana Halley), following the death of their mother. The three make a trip to South Africa, a place that was very special to the family’s departed matriarch, and they meet up with Martin Battles, a self-described enforcer for a reserve who protects the area from poachers.

The day after their arrival, Nate, Norah, and Mere head out on Martin’s personal VIP tour of the area in a protected Jeep, and they are stunned by the sights of giraffes, rhinoceroses, elephants and more. When they make a stop at a village and discover that everybody has been slaughtered, however, they quickly realize that something is very wrong, and that they are in very real danger. The perpetrator of the attack is a massive male lion that has done the feline equivalent of mentally snapping after its entire pride is wiped out by poachers, and it has begun killing humans not for food or self-preservation, but in what read as acts of vengeance.

Beast's lion attack scenes are thrilling and well done.

It should hardly be a surprise that Beast’s best sequences come together when the lion is on the prowl and savagely attacking the protagonists, as that’s always going to be the bread-and-butter of this kind of cinematic experience, but the work nonetheless deserves specific praise. The visual effects, for starters, are impressive for what is clearly a production that most definitely wasn’t working with a blockbuster budget. CGI animals can be tricky business (it’s really the only drawback of Alexandre Aja’s otherwise exceptional Crawl from 2019, for example), but the big cat here has weight, presence, and a dangerous energy. The claws and teeth coming through the windows of the Jeep feel authentic, as do the desperate punches and kicks by the humans to try and ward it off.

Baltasar Kormákur further comes at the material with a smart and daring approach. While we regularly see movies use frenetic editing to get across a sense of chaos in attack scenes like those in Beast, Kormákur goes in the opposite direction with this movie, and it’s impressive. Smart blocking and camera work results in long, one-shot moments that build tension naturally, and in the most heightened moments the audience is kept in the action with the characters and not cinematically distanced from it with cuts to a new angle or a reaction. This smart filmmaking isn’t totally limited to just the cat-centric action/horror either, as there is dream-within-a-dream-within-a-dream sequence that feels more like magic than expert camerawork.

Beast drags far too much when the lion isn't around.

One goes into a movie like this expecting awesome animal attacks, but also hoping for a bit more, and that’s where Beast ends up being a letdown. The first act is used to establish some interesting interpersonal dynamics – like Mere resenting Nate for being separated from her mother while she was being treated for the cancer that ultimately killed her, and Martin revealing that he didn’t go to the funeral in New York because he felt that she should have been put to rest in South Africa. However, these never develop into anything particularly interesting over the course of the film (the latter is never addressed again, and the former is background motivation for Nate to protect his daughters… which is something we really expect from any dad on the big screen regardless). The characters are relatable, but there isn’t ever anything particularly special about any of them, and that stops the movie from feeling special.

This basic approach to the protagonists is matched by a basic approach to the story. As frightening as a massive, psychopathic lion is, the movie seems to forget that the beast isn’t the only scary thing about being stranded in the middle of a savannah with no transportation or communication. There is an extremely brief conversation about rationing water, and one character comes close to being bitten by a snake, but there are zero conversations about what to do for food, there are no overt wilderness survival tactics initiated, and there is even a full sequence in what is established as crocodile-infested waters… but the reptiles never show up. The characters feel safe whenever the central threat isn’t around, and it’s devastating to the stakes. This is a film that could easily keep its boot on your neck with tension from a wide variety of sources, but it doesn’t bother, and it only gets interesting when the lion is prowling around.

With a late August release date, Beast is set up to come out with baseline expectations, and it’s proficient as a late summer cinematic distraction… but it’s also difficult to applaud wasted potential. There is a lot to like in the movie, but not as much as there should be.

In 2014, moviegoers glimpsed a new side to one of Disney's most famous fairy tales with Maleficent, a live-action re-imagining that saw Angelina Jolie adopting the role of the Mistress of Evil. Only now, as we learned, she wasn't so evil at all. Also starring Elle Fanning, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, and Brenton Thwaites, the blockbuster proved to be a huge box office smash, if not a critical darling, spawning 2019's Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which didn't fare so well. Now that it's been seven years since this movie waved its wand onto silver screens, it's fair to wonder what the Maleficent cast is doing now. Let's find out! 

Angelina Jolie (Maleficent) 

As the once-misunderstood fairy who finally gets her chance to tell her side of the story, Angelina Jolie took on the not-so-evil title character in Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Most notably, the A-list actress won an Oscar for her celebrated supporting turn in Girl, Interrupted, and was Oscar-nominated for Changeling. Other film credits include Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Salt, Wanted, Hackers, Gone in 60 Seconds, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and its sequel, A Mighty Heart, and Alexander. 

Additionally, Jolie can be seen in movies like Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Beyond Borders, and The Bone Collector. Also, the actress can be heard in the Kung Fu Panda movies, Shark Tale, and Beowulf. Furthermore, Jolie wrote, produced, directed, and starred in By the Sea. She wrote, produced, and directed Netflix's First They Killed My Father and In the Land of Blood and Honey and directed and produced Unbroken. Last year, Jolie starred in Come Away. 

Moreover, she produced and was heard in Disney+’s The One and Only Ivan. Earlier this year, Jolie frontlined Those Who Wish Me Dead. Currently, the actress appears in Eternals. Next, Jolie stars in Every Note Played. 

Outside of film, Angelina Jolie was Emmy-nominated for starring in HBO’s Gia. The celeb was also nominated for her supporting turn in TNT’s George Wallace. 

Elle Fanning (Aurora) 

In the role of Aurora, the fair royal daughter who becomes Sleeping Beauty, Elle Fanning was the deuteragonist in Disney’s Maleficent and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Following her screen debut in I Am Sam, the actress has become one of our most prominent young movie stars. Notably, Fanning has starred in movies like 20th Century Women, Super 8, The Beguiled, The Neon Demon, We Bought a Zoo, Trumbo, Mary Shelley, and I Think We’re Alone Now. Other movie credits include Live By Night, Reservation Road, Babel, Because of Winn-Dixie, and Daddy Day Care. 

Last year, Fanning frontlined The Roads Not Taken, A Rainy Day in New York, and Netflix’s All the Bright Places. Next, she is signed on to star in The Nightingale and Francis and the Godfather. 

Away from film, Elle Fanning stars in Hulu’s The Great, for which she was Golden Globe-nominated. Currently, the actress is filming Hulu’s The Girl From Plainville. 

Sharlto Copley (Stefan)

Playing the part of King Stefan, a cruel, manipulative, tyrannical leader who isn’t the kind-natured ruler that we once knew, Sharlto Copley is our main antagonist in Maleficent. Most notably, he came into prominence by starring in District 9. Copley’s other notable film credits include The A-Team, Oldboy (2013), Elysium, Chappie, Hardcore Henry (which the actor also produced), Free Fire, and Gringo. Additionally, he can be seen in The Hollars, Open Grave, Europa Report, and The Last Days of American Crime. 

Outside of acting, Copley co-wrote and co-directed Spoon. Earlier this year, he starred in Ted K. Copley was also heard in Seal Team. Next, the actor will appear in Monkey Man. Copley is also currently filming Beast.

Furthermore, away from film, Sharlto Copley starred in PlayStation Network’s Powers. Next, the actor will appear in the new season of Netflix’s Russian Doll. 

Sam Riley (Diaval)

As Diaval, our lead's loyal friend and pet raven, Sam Riley plays our titular character’s “wings” in 2014’s Maleficent and its sequel. Most notably, the actor played Ian Curtis in the outstanding music biopic, Control. Also, Riley starred in On the Road. Other movie credits include Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Byzantium, Free Fire, Suite Francaise, and Happy New Year, Colin Burstead. 

Away from film, Riley also appeared in Tinkershrimp & Dutch and SS-GB. Last year, the actor appeared in Rebecca, Radioactive, and Sometimes Always Never. Earlier this year, Riley appeared in The Vault. Next, he’ll be seen in She’s in Love. He's also signed on to star in The Duchess of Malfi. 

Imelda Staunton (Knotgrass)

In the role of Knotgrass, the eldest and wisest pixie, Imelda Staunton plays the sternest member of the magical trio in both films. Notably, the actress was Oscar-nominated for her starring turn in Vera Drake, and is well-known for playing Dolores Umbridge in several Harry Potter sequels. Her other notable film credits include Shakespeare in Love, Sense and Sensibility, Much Ado About Nothing, Nanny McPhee, Alice in Wonderland, Chicken Run, Arthur Christmas, Downton Abbey, and the Paddington movies. Next, Staunton is set to star in Downton Abbey: A New Era and The Canterville Ghost. 

Outside of film, Imelda Staunton’s television credits include Big and Small, Cranford, Little Britain, The Singing Detective, and A Confession. Last year, the actress appeared in ITV’s Flesh and Blood and Apple TV+’s Trying. Next, Staunton will play Queen Elizabeth II, in Netflix’s The Crown Season 5.

Juno Temple (Thistlewit)

Playing the part of Thistlewit, the youngest, most carefree pixie, Juno Temple is a sweet-natured character in Disney’s Maleficent movies. Most notably, the actress was Emmy-nominated for her role in Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso. Previously, she had starring roles in HBO’s Vinyl, Bravo’s Dirty John, and Sky Atlantic’s Little Birds. She also appeared on Drunk History and Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams. Earlier this year, Temple was seen in Apple TV+’s Mr. Corman. Next, the actress appears in Paramount+’s The Offer, which is currently filming. 

Away from TV, Juno Temple is known for Killer Joe, Black Mass, The Dark Knight Rises, Atonement, Afternoon Delight, The Other Boleyn Girl, Year One, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Notes on a Scandal, and the St. Trinian’s movies. She's also seen in The Brass Teapot, Horns, Far from the Madding Crowd, Wonder Wheel and more. Earlier this year, Temple starred in Apple TV+’s Palmer. Next, the actress appears in Crooks and Everest. 

Lesley Manville (Flittle)

As Flittle, the third pixie, Lesley Manville plays a cheery, sometimes thoughtless member of the magical trio in Maleficent. Most notably, the actress was Oscar-nominated for her outstanding supporting turn in Phantom Thread. Additionally, Manville gained acclaim and awards recognition for her performance in Another Year. Her other notable film credits include Secrets & Lies, High Hopes, Grown-Ups, Topsy-Turvy, Vera Drake, Mr. Turner, All or Nothing, Ordinary Love, and A Christmas Carol (2009). 

Additionally, Manville can also be seen in Romeo & Juliet (2013), A Five Star Life, Ghosts,  and Ordinary Love. Most recently, the Academy Award-nominated actress appeared in Misbehaviour and Let Him Go. Next, Manville will soon be seen in Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men and Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris. 

Outside of film, Lesley Manville’s notable television credits include Harlots, Law & Order: UK, and Cranford. Next, the actress will play Princess Margaret in Netflix’s The Crown. Manville is also slated to appear in PBS’s Magpie Murders. Currently, she is filming Starz’s Dangerous Liaisons. 

Brenton Thwaites (Prince Phillip)

In the role of Prince Phillip, the long-haired romantic who weds Aurora, Brenton Thwaites plays a dashing love interest in Maleficent. Most notably, he stars in HBO Max’s Titans as Dick Grayson, i.e. Robin, a.k.a. Nightwing. Thwaites also had a recurring role as Stu Henderson on Seven Network’s Home and Away. His other TV credits include Slide, Sea Patrol, and Blue Lagoon: The Awakening. 

Away from the tube, Brenton Thwaites starred in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Gods of Egypt, The Signal, The Giver, and Oculus. He can also be seen in Office Uprising (which he also produced), An Interview with God, and A Violent Separation. Most recently, Thwaites appeared in Ghosts of War and I Met a Girl. 

Kenneth Cranham (King Henry)

Playing the part of King Henry, a ruthless and power-hungry king who attempted to conquer the Moors through diligent force, Kenneth Cranham was a secondary bad guy in Maleficent. His other notable film credits include Layer Cake, Oliver!, Valkyrie, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Mr. Jones, Official Secrets, Hot Fuzz, and A Good Year. Additionally, Cranham is seen in Born Romantic, Gangster No. 1, Women Talking Dirty, The Boxer, The Legend of Hercules, and Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool, to only name a few credits. Next, he will appear in Warrior.

Away from film, Kenneth Cranham appeared in El C.I.D., Rules of Engagement, A Sort of Innocence, Heart of High Country, Shine on Harvey Moon, Danger UXB, Coronation Street, Rome, Without Motive, Dickens, The White Princess, Hatton Garden, The Spanish Princess, The Good Karma Princess, and In the Long Run. Most recently, the well-esteemed stage and screen actor starred in Finding Alice. 

Hannah New (Princess Leila) 

As Princess Leila, the daughter of King Henry and Aurora's mother, Hannah New adopted a short-lived character in Disney’s Maleficent. Most notably, the actress played Eleanor Guthrie in Starz’s Black Sails. She also had recurring roles in FX’s The Strain and Trust. Moreover, New was one of the leads in Antena 3’s short-lived The Time in Between. 

Outside of TV, her other film credits include Fuga de cerebros 2 and 2011’s short films, ReVersion and Super Mario. Away from acting, New produced 2016’s short film, The Dead Sea. Most recently, the film-TV actress was seen in Edge of the World. Next, New is slated to appear in Summit Fever. 

Maleficent is available to stream on Disney+. 

Whenever you watch a Ben Wheatley film, you get a palpable sense of both his enjoyment of the craft and him trying to push it into new terrain. Down Terrace, Kill List and Sightseers were subversive takes on their genre, while A Field In England and last year's High-Rise, his magnum opus, were each gloriously outrageous and outlandish, although in the case of the former, it was just beyond its own limitations.

It makes complete sense then that Ben Wheatley would orchestrate a film like Free Fire, which revolves around a group of IRA members purchasing a hoard of guns from a South African arms dealer, only for the exchange to go sour and the two parties to turn their weapons on each other, all of which unfolds within the confines of a Boston warehouse. The animosity between the groups originally arises after Sharlto Copley's Vernon supplies the wrong type of weapons to Cillian Murphy's Chris. But things become much more intense after it emerges that Chris' driver Stevo and Vernon's aid Harry were embroiled in a fight the night before. They quickly re-start their quarrel, which results in one of the duo getting shot, and then everyone else draws their guns, as well.

Ben Wheatley, who as well as directing Free Fire also co-wrote it with his long-time partner Amy Jump, sets his paper-thin story against a cacophony of bullets. Loud, brash, and rollicking, Free Fire has enough gun blasts and violence to entertain, but ultimately lacks the requisite surprises or savvy to be anything more than a frivolous diversion.

Free Fire suffices thanks to a combination of both the energy and vigor of Ben Wheatley's direction and its insanely excellent and likable cast, each of whom revel in being provided with characters that are witty and charismatic, as well as reprobates, too. Particularly Armie Hammer, who deploys the effortless cool and charm that's won him so many admirers in Hollywood, even though he then struggles to the find roles that bring these qualities to the fore. Everything Sharlto Copley utters is hilarious, while Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, and Jack Reynor are cool and chic and deliver Ben Wheatley and Amy Jump's lines with a sparkling rat-a-tat-tat.

After the bullets start flying, there's an irreverence and humor to the proceedings that's instantly enjoyable, especially when injuries are randomly acquired. But while Ben Wheatley was obviously attracted to such a film because of the constraints of unfolding a gunfight in one setting, this restriction ultimately holds Free Fire back. Once the original barrage of gunshots ceases, it actually becomes a little hard to keep up with proceedings, while Brie Larson, Michael Smiley, and Sharlto Copley's characters embark on nearby pursuits that you're just not invested in. Especially since they're crawling to do so, while the joke that those involved are the worst shots in the history of movies soon grows tired.

There's enough anger, insults, and sudden jolts of violence (with one character meeting a particularly gruesome and gory end in the final act) to make up for these shortcomings. But considering the talent involved and its potential once Free Fire's shoot-out began it should have moved up an echelon rather than stagnating and ending up just a pleasing but trivial watch.

Prop guns made for movies are built to be as safe as possible -- but they're also built to be as realistic as possible. As a result, you won't get hurt standing in front of the barrel, but you better get ready to shield your ears, because they are also incredibly loud. This wasn't a brand new lesson for actor Sharlto Copley in the making of the gun-filled new movie Free Fire, as the actor has had plenty of action experience before, but he still wound up having an accident that could have wound up causing serious damage. Discussing the sound on set in the making of the movie, Copley recently told me,

Sharlto Copley told me this story about his dangerous experience on the set of Free Fire when I sat down with both him and co-star Sam Riley last week during the Los Angeles press day for the film. Having personally had the experience of hearing deafening gun shots on an enclosed movie set, I asked the two actors if there were any concerns about their ear safety in a movie that is essentially a 90-minute long shootout. As you can see in the above story, the production wound up providing an educational moment for Copley, as he could have possibly either deafened himself, or given himself permanent tinnitus thanks to a misplaced ear plug.

That's not the end of this story, however, as evidently Sharlto Copley had an interesting overall experience with gunshots and safety equipment throughout the making of Free Fire. When I sat down later in the day with director Ben Wheatley (who was paired with actor Armie Hammer), I asked the same question about the noise level on set, and he told me another story about his South African star's fun time with ear plugs during the making of the movie. Evidently Copley didn't actually want to wear them during the making of the film because it wasn't a part of his character... but his mind was changed on that matter shortly after the literal shooting began. Wheatley told me,

In all seriousness, we're obviously very glad that Sharlto Copley wound up being okay after the production -- and it's a lesson to take for any actor out there about safety taking priority over performance.

You can watch Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Ben Wheatley and Armie Hammer talk about the crazy noise level on the set of Free Fire in the video below -- which also includes a fun bonus story from Hammer about the weird challenge of doing dialogue scenes with ear plugs in:

Written and directed by Ben Wheatley, Free Fire is an ensemble film set in the 1970s and centers on a gun deal gone bad. Two groups meet in a warehouse for an exchange that is meant to supply munitions to the rebel fighters in Ireland, but personal conflicts and double-dealings quickly lead everything to go to hell. Before long, everyone is nursing their own personal bullet wound and praying to be either the last man or woman standing. Brie Larson, Sharlto Copley, Sam Riley, Armie Hammer, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor and more star, and the film arrives in theaters this Friday, April 21st.

When everyone has a gun, no one's in control. That's the overarching thesis of Ben Wheatley's upcoming film, Free Fire, and it looks like a crazy, self-contained thrill ride. Seriously, absurd doesn't even begin to describe it. A new trailer for the Brie Larson-fronted firefight film has just hit the web, and it's as insane as it is hilarious. Check it out below to see for yourself.

That's about as good as trailers get these days. The latest offering from A24 appears to be a self-contained black comedy about an arms deal gone wrong in Boston circa the 1970s. The film primarily focuses on Ord (Armie Hammer), Justine (Brie Larson), Chris (Cillian Murphy), and Vernon (Sharlto Copley) as they fight for survival after they find themselves ambushed in a remote warehouse. True to the red band footage, Free Fire looks like a hilarious, chaotic R-rated romp, with Brie Larson's Justine swearing like a sailor and shooting people every step of the way. Larson clearly has no interest in resting on her laurels any time soon. Despite her recent Oscar win for her work on Room, and the revelation from San Diego Comic-Con that she will take on the role of Captain Marvel in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it's obvious that she's very interested in constantly challenging herself.

We would also be remiss for not pointing out the sheer amount of talent that this project has attracted. As we've already mentioned, Brie Larson is front and center, but the rest of the cast is also uniformly excellent. From Armie Hammer, to Cillian Murphy, to newcomer Jack Reynor, Ben Wheatly has filled out the cast of Free Fire with some of the most talented actors currently working in Hollywood. That being said, it looks like Sharlto Copley will once again rise above and steal the show. The District 9 star has become one of the most consistently reliable character actors in showbusiness, and Free Fire seems to capitalize on his innate ability to completely inhabit manic characters.

It's worth noting that Free Fire looks to be the latest in a long line of stellar cinematic outings brought to us by A24. Over the last few years, the indie production company has proven itself to be completely unafraid of taking risks, and that bravery has resulted in some of the most fascinating films in recent memory. Obviously it's still incredibly early, but Free Fire looks like it could join the ranks of Ex Machina, Green Room, and Swiss Army Man as a quintessential example of how A24 currently has a vice grip on the indie film scene.

Cinema Blend will bring you any and all relevant details related to Free Fire as more information becomes available to us. The frenetic firefight film will open wide in 2017. Stay tuned for more details!

Anybody wishing that South African actor Sharlto Copley would jump into the wide world of superheroes should be pretty pleased by this news. Copley and The Killing’s Emmy-nominated actress Michelle Forbes have both signed on to join the impressive cast of Powers, the comic book adaptation coming to PlayStation Network later this year. Part of me wishes Copley’s batshit Elysium antagonist Kruger could also exist in the Powers world, as well as all other movies.

Copley will be taking on the co-lead role of Christian Walker, a homicide detective partnered with Deena Pilgrim (Susan Heyward). They’re not your average dicks, as their cases are more focused on larger-than-life crimes involving people with superhuman capabilities, simply dubbed Powers. (Walker used to be a Power before losing his abilities.) According to Deadline, Forbes will star as the selfless Retro Girl, the most high-profile superstar within the world of Powers. The comic series, created by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oerning, starts off with a story arc called “Who Killed Retro Girl?” so I have to wonder just how long Forbes will be around in this series, and how the character’s reincarnated qualities will be ported to the small screen.

On the evil side of things is Wolfe (Eddie Izzard), an evil Power who formerly served as Walker’s mentor before being imprisoned for decades in a special jail called the Shaft, where his skillset has been dulled by medical procedures. Noah Taylor also recently joined the series as Johnny Royalle, a criminal biggie who owns an underground club that features at the center of a conspiracy; Royalle can appear and disappear at will, which is certainly helpful when heinous crimes are afoot, and also when dinner guests ask who's paying the bill.

The Powers comics, first published in 2000, were already at the center of a televised adaptation a few years ago, when FX gave the greenlight to a pilot that eventually went nowhere. And not to throw insults around here, but I think the PlayStation Network version of the cast is much more interesting than Jason Patric and Lucy Punch as the lead detectives, with former T-Mobile spokeswoman Carly Foulkes as Retro Girl. I’m fine with that pilot poofing out of existence.

Copley, who starred in this year’s Maleficent, is reteaming with District 9 director Neill Blomkamp for the upcoming sci-fi comedy Chappie, and recently wrapped production on John Krasinski’s sophomore directorial effort The Hollars. Forbes, meanwhile, is keeping her TV career strong in the meantime, with recent starring roles on Chicago Fire, Orphan Black and the upcoming Americanized remake of The Returned; she’s also rumored to be joining the cast of True Detective for its second season. On the film side, she’ll be seen by presumably everyone in the world in November’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1.

The first two episodes of Powers will be directed by 30 Days of Night helmer David Slade, from scripts written by Charlie Huston. PlayStation Network users can expect to find Powers hitting the system in December, though it’s unknown how or when everyone else can get their eyes on it. Legally, at least.

It's not too much to say that Sharlto Copley owes his entire acting career to writer/director Neill Blomkamp. The South African star had no aspirations of becoming an actor before the filmmaker put him in his 2006 short film Alive in Joburg and then made him the lead of 2009's District 9. Since his amazing debut, the actor has worked on a couple other projects, including Joe Carnahan's A-Team and the upcoming sci-fi thriller Europa Report, but this summer will once again be uniting with Blomkamp for Elysium. And their partnership won't be ending there.

Entertainment Weekly has learned that Blomkamp and Copley will once again team on Chappie, the director's third feature effort. Unlike their previous collaborations, this new film will apparently be much lighter, with the star describing it as "a science-fiction comedy." Plot details about the film are being kept under wraps at the moment, but Copley teased the magazine saying that it has "an unusual setting." Copley first suggested he had the lead in the new movie this weekend when he left a post on his Facebook wall simply reading, "is CHAPPIE."

Copley has some more big titles on the horizon as well. While Elysium will be in theaters this August, October will see the release of Spike Lee's Oldboy, which will see the actor star as the villain opposite Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen. He will also be featured with Angelina Jolie, Elle fanning, and Juno Temple in Robert Stromberg's Maleficent, though that film won't be out until July 2nd, 2014.

Where have you gone, Sharlto Copley? in 2009 the South African actor blew audiences away with his lead performance in Neill Blomkamp's District 9, and it looked like he was going to be the next big thing when he took the role as Murdock in Joe Carnahan's The A-Team, but the sad truth is that we haven't seen him in anything since.

Fortunately, the drought will soon be over. In 2013 he will appear in Blomkamp's second effort, the epic sci-fi story Elysium with Matt Damon (which is due out on August 9, 2013), and he will also be in Spike Lee's Oldboy, playing the central villain and squaring off against Josh Brolin (out later that year on October 11, 2013). As high-profile as those parts are, though, one project that has been developing under the radar is a sci-fi thriller called Europa Report - and today the first trailer for the movie has arrived online. Check it out below.

Co-starring Michael Nyqvist, Daniel Wu and Isiah Whitlock Jr., the new film is directed by Sebastián Cordero and based on an original screenplay by Philip Gelatt. The story follows a group of six international astronauts as they head to Jupiter's fourth moon, Europa, to search for any possible sign of alien life forms. The project was produced by Wayfare Entertainment and Misher Films, but it does not yet have distribution in the United States.

To try and discover the secret of The Europa Report, head over to the viral website seen in the trailer at www.EuropaVenturesLLC.com. Let us know what you find!

Sharlto Copley has had a tough time finding a role that's nearly as interesting as his breakthrough part in District 9, as the alien-infected government agent Wikus. But he looks ready to be on quite a roll-- just this week he was confirmed as both the villain in Spike Lee's Oldboy, as well as the lead in the thriller Open Grave. Now he's adding another very high-profile film to his schedule-- Deadline reports he's in talks to join Angelina Jolie in Maleficent, the retelling of the Sleeping Beauty told from the villainess's point of view.

Copley will play King Stefan, presumably the father of Princess Aurora, the young woman cursed by Maleficent and put into a long, deep sleep. The funny thing is we still don't really know who will play Aurora-- there had been a rumor a while back that Elle Fanning may take the role, and while she seems perfect for it, there hasn't been any kind of confirmation since. Copley's casting, and the looming March 14, 2014 release date, probably mean they'll have to cast someone soon. If I were to guess I'd say Fanning is still their choice, but maybe she's holding out for a better deal.

Robert Stromberg, who did production design for Alice in Wonderland is taking over the director's chair once occupied by Tim Burton. While he's unproven as a director, he's lining up a lot of talent that might help make that transition easier.

The search for an actor to play a villain has been a tough one. Many great names have been asked to join the production, but each one of them turned it down due to scheduling or other reasons. At one point or another we reported that Christian Bale, Colin Firth and Clive Owen were all offered and then rejected offers. The search, however, is over now that Sharlto Copley has officially signed on.

It was first reported two weeks ago that Copley had been offered the part, but now Deadline says that the role is his. The South African actor will be working alongside Josh Brolin and Elizabeth Olsen as well as director Spike Lee. The movie follows a man named Joe Douchett (Brolin) who is mysteriously kidnapped and held captive for 15 years. One day he is released, given some money and a call phone, and goes on the hunt for the person who destroyed his life. Copley will be playing Adrian Pryce, the billionaire who organizes the whole plot. The script was written by Mark Protosevich.

But that's not the only piece of good news that Copley has received today. The same new report says that the actor has landed a role in Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego’s Open Grave. He will play a man who one day wakes up under a pile of dead bodies and no memory of how he got there. Slowly he begins to experience flashbacks that rebuild what happened in the missing time and discovers that he may be a murderer. Lopez-Gallego last directed the found-footage horror film Apollo 18.

After many, many months of trying to get a cast together, Spike Lee may have finally found someone to play the villain in his remake of Oldboy. Josh Brolin has long been attached to play the lead originated by Min-sik Choi, and Martha Marcy May Marlene star Elizabeth Olsen has agreed to play the female lead. Finding the antagonist, however, has been a very special kind of challenge. Actors such as Christian Bale, Clive Owen, and Colin Firth have all been offered the chance to play the part, but nobody has agreed. Perhaps the fourth time will be the charm?

Variety is reporting that an offer is now out to Sharlto Copley to play the villain in the English-language Oldboy remake. Copley, who broke out in 2009 with his lead performance in Neill Blomkamp's District 9, has been largely absent from the big screen since, his last performance coming in Joe Carnahan's The A-Team. He does have two projects on the horizon for next year, including Blomkamp's Elysium (which also stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster and William Fichtner) and director Sebastián Cordero's science fiction thriller Europa.

Oldboy is being written by Mark Protosevich and will star Brolin as a man who is mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years. One day he is released, given some clothes, money and a cell phone and he goes on a mission to figure out why he was kidnapped. Olsen will play a young caseworker who helps Brolin on his mission. The article doesn't mention when production will start or when the film will be released.

Last fall, when Men In Black III seemed to be moving ahead smoothly and with plenty of time to add actors to the cast, Sharlto Copley was finding his way on board, along with Betty White in some kind of cameo. It's unclear if White will still be showing up on the screen now that shooting is starting back up after a three-month hiatus, but Copley definitely won't be appearing. According to THR, Michael Stuhlbarg has stepped into the role Copley was once considering, a character known only as "Griffin."

Stuhlbarg is best known for starring as the beleaguered Larry Gopnik in the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man, but he's a mainstay in the New York theater scene, so it makes sense that he'd be somewhere around the Queens shoot for Men In Black III and able to jump in at the last minute. He's been starring lately as Arnold Rothstein, the gambler who fixed the World Series, on Boardwalk Empire, and will also appear in this winter's Hugo Cabret. It seems inconceivable that his part in Men In Black III will be as rewarding or interesting as anything listed above, but it can't help bringing in actual talent to the project that still seems cobbled together and unnecessary. Men In Black III is still set for release on May 25, 2012.

Even though District 9 snagged him an Oscar nomination and somehow got him on the rumor list for directing The Hobbit, Neill Blomkamp has stayed remarkably under-the-radar since his $30 million directorial debut earned more than $200 million worldwide. Now it's finally time to him to come forward with his next project, and no, it's not the District 9 sequel. According to Deadline Blomkamp and his District 9 star Sharlto Copley are planning another sci-fi feature together, this one called Elysium and set on a distant planet.

Blomkamp is meeting with various studios, and in addition to giving a verbal pitch with his ideas, he's including a graphic novel-- a gambit that helped him get Peter Jackson as a producer on District 9.In addition to courting studios Blomkamp is meeting with people who represent actors, as no one but Copley has been cast yet. And there's no telling if this anything to do with the viral short that Blomkamp directed recently, though given that the short seems to center around an Earth-based company that's genetically engineering mutants, I'd doubt the two are connected.

Sony is still pushing hard for Blomkamp to make a District 9 sequel, and it may still happen, but given that the guy seems to have imagination to spare I'm happy to see him moving forward with something different. And Copley, whose Hollywood career got off to an awkward start with a role in The A-Team, should be glad to get back in business with Blomkamp, who guided him to a phenomenal performance as Wikus van der Merwe in District 9. Hopefully a studio will get on board with Blomkamp's pitch shortly and we'll get a look at this project within the next few years.

Rip Torn has decided to spend his waning years as some sort of crazed alcoholic who will probably end up in prison, so that means he’s definitely out of the picture when Men in Black 3 gets up and running. In the previous two movies Torn played Zed, the head of the Men in Black organization. They’ve may have found the perfect replacement. Pajiba says it’s Alec Baldwin.

The genius thing about this is that Baldwin, in addition to being a comedic demi-god, already has experience taking Rip Torn’s job. The two were paired up on 30 Rock, back before Torn went nuts. Alec’s Jack Donaghy character was the apprentice and successor of Torn’s billionaire corporate mega-mogul. This time he’ll actually end up playing Rip Torn’s predecessor, the head of MIB back in 1969. As we learned a few months ago Men in Black 3 will involve time travel.

According to the report Baldwin is currently in negotiations to join the cast, as are Gemma Arterton and District 9’s Sharlto Copely. Arterton will be a secretary back in the 1969 version of the MIB and Copely will play what Pajiba describes as a “fast-talking Yoda type alien”. Copley has made the transition from hanging out with aliens to actually becoming one.

Already in the cast along with Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith reprising their traditional MIB roles, is Jemaine Clement. Like Copley he’s playing an alien, but he’s the movie’s villain.

Do you like yelling, explosions, tattoos, fires, one-liners, more explosions, louder yelling, Bradley Cooper looking dreamy, helicopter dog fights, a little retro “I’m gonna kill you fool!,” big ass stogies, and plans coming together? Then, judging by the latest clip to hit the internet, you’ll absolutely love The A-Team. I mean really love it.

The A-Team just looks like a good time at the theater, with ridiculous action sequences and snarky dialogue aplenty. Isn’t that what summer blockbusters are made of? They’re all about spending 95% percent of the budget on some well-known faces and special effects galore while chucking the other 5% at a writer or two to pull the whole thing together. Because with this much going on onscreen all at once, the dialogue just gets in the way.

Check out a four minute clip of The A-Team below, and remember, don’t park in the handicap zone!

Poor Sharlto Copley is about to go on the publicity rounds to promote The A-Team, which means he's going to be asked nonstop about when the District 9 sequel will film, if he'll be involved in it, how they'll come up with a plot, etc. etc. Getting things started is Empire Magazine, whom Copley told the plan is to start work on District 10-- or whatever they're calling it-- in two years.

I'm sure Copley didn't intend that last statement to be a slight jab against James Cameron, but really, he's right-- District 9 really wouldn't stand up to an Aliens-level sequel, and if they want to keep Wikus involved, well, I'll just let you figure that out sans-spoiler. It sounds like we've got a while to let Blomkamp and Copley plan things out, and plenty of time to pester them about details-- including that darned A-Team publicity tour. Put on your brave face, Sharlto! We appreciate it!

Fox has unveiled a brand new set of character posters for The A-Team… which aren't in English. Presumably these will show up with an American font at some point, but they’re far too cool to wait. Check out all four new International A-Team character posters below. Click on each for high-res and keep an eye out for the increasingly awesome looking A-Team movie in theaters June 11th.

Right now, I'll be honest, Teresa Palmer looks pretty much like any other pretty blond Australian import. She's been snagging steady movie roles since 2005, but since they've mostly been in movies like The Grudge 2 and Bedtime Stories, I haven't caught them. But Palmer has seem on the verge of her big moment for a while now, and now she's adding strength to her Next Big Thing status. THR reports that she has signed on to play one of the refugee aliens in I Am Number Four.

An adaptation of an upcoming sci-fi novel by James Frey and Jobie Hughes, Number Four already stars Alex Pettyfer as the titular alien refugee, and Sharlto Copley as Pettyfer's "guardian and mentor" (human? alien? who knows!) Palmer's character is known as Number Six, and while it's not a guarantee that she'll be Pettyfer's love interest, come on. Pretty alien boy? Pretty alien girl? Both of them refugees on the same planet? That's how love connections are made.

Historically, science fiction has been treated like a red-headed step child by Oscar. In 1977, Star Wars broke into the Best Picture category, but its universally-accepted-as-better sequel The Empire Strikes Back got the cold shoulder from the little gold statue in 1980. Two years after that, where was Blade Runner’s nomination? Ridley Scott crafted a sweeping epic, more visually stunning than anything film goers had ever seen, but still the sci-fi staple got no love. How could the Academy shun Rutger Hauer? Since then, science fiction has remained forgotten; forgone in lieu of the nearly 150 dramas which have hogged the nominations for 30 years.

But in 2010, not one but TWO films have kicked their way out of sci-fi purgatory and into the Best Picture category, one of which stands out as the clear winner: District 9. How did a movie about mid-level manager slowly morphing into an alien find itself in the same category with An Education and Precious? Short answer: because it’s god damn awesome. District 9 defines awesome. Story? Awesome. Acting? Awesome. Visual Effects? Double Awesome. The Best Picture category is usually littered with dramas trying so hard to elicit an emotional response that it’s impossible to really sit back and enjoy a great film. Crash for example. Getting a deep or meaningful story out of that mess of blatant racism and open weeping is impossible when you're consistently too shocked by the dialogue to pay attention to the story, or too busy sitting in a puddle of your own tears and wondering why it is you're crying in the first place. Crash was actively emotional to a fault.

What's a Wikus? That's a Wikus.

District 9 on the other hand is passively emotional. It doesn't so much try to punch through your chest to rip at your heart strings as it does just unfold and let you choose if and when you should let your guard down and take a few jabs. It’s impossible to not feel sympathy for the plight of Wikus Van de Merwe, whose only concern is whether or not he’ll see his wife again, but the film isn’t bogged down by endless scenes of the South African crying “woe is me” into a busted mirror in the slums of D9. Instead he’s a fighter, a man battling to regain his life and expose the MNU. You won’t find yourself bawling into your popcorn, your emotions get a work out all the same.

Yet there’s more to movies than simply emotion. District 9 is a visual feast built on photorealistic special effects being pulled off for pennies. Sure, Avatar is great to look at despite its weak and recycled story, but D9 did everything it did for $520 million less than Cameron’s Pandoran epic and the results are just as stunning as if you’d just watch those giant blue Indians fly some dragons around. Never will you look at Christopher Johnson and not be fooled into thinking there’s actually a bug-like prawn standing on set with Sharlto Copley. Every shot fired from the film’s fully imaginary, utterly exotic alien weaponry is as believable as if it were military issue. You can tell yourself that what you’re seeing isn’t real, but your eyes will never believe it.

CGI? Where?

The real triumph of District 9 is its ability to be culturally relevant without beating you to death with its ideals. Neill Blomkamp made a film that obviously mirrors his native South Africa’s Apartheid struggles, but never do you feel like you’re gagging on the corollaries. Movies don’t need to leave their audience feeling assaulted when they walk out of the theater in order for there to be an underlying message, and D9 does a perfect job walking that tight rope between subtlety and offensive over-zealousness.

If you need a poster child for what an Oscar film should be, you’ll find it in District 9. With a unique story, spotless acting, and cultural weight, it pushes the envelope visually by raising the bar for all effects driven films that don’t have $550 million dollars to blow on whatever they want. It defines what film making should be, and deserves to take every statue it’s nominated for. We’ve had 30 years of period dramas, epic dramas, based on a true story dramas, war dramas, gangster dramas, and disability dramas. But movies are more than just girls in corsets or guys with Tommy Guns. Isn’t it time science fiction earned a real place at the Oscars?

Get more Cinema Blend Oscar Rants right here.

Earlier this week it was announced that the trailer for Joe Carnahan's film adaptation of The A-Team would be coming this weekend. Well, just like just about every trailer these days, that date just wasn't soon enough for fans.

The first trailer for the film has leaked online, from Vimeo user Clive Owen (probably not the actor) and though it isn't the greatest quality, it is what it is (meaning unofficial). In terms of first reactions, it does come across as somewhat disappointing: everything flies by so fast that there is a total lack of coherence, and Copley's accent doesn't sound too sharp. While those two problems could potentially improve with a higher quality video (coming soon I'm sure), I will say this: Liam Neeson looks awesome. It probably won't be around long, so check out the trailer below while you still can. We recommend watching in full-screen, since the aspect ratio is wacky for some reason.

The A-Team casting saga continues. First off, the good news; EW’s Hollywood Insider has confirmed that Sharlto Copley will play H.M. ‘Howling Mad’ Murdoch. Rounding out the group is Liam Nesson as Col. John ‘Hannibal’ Smith, Bradley Cooper at Lt. Templeton ‘Faceman’ Peck and Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson as B.A. ‘Bad Attiude’ Baracas. Also confirmed, the film has also nabbed its first female star, Jessica Biel. She’ll play an ex-flame of Faceman’s.

Now for the bad news; well, bad if you’re a fan of David Richmond-Peck. As reported by Moviehole, word on the Vancouver set is that Richman-Peck read opposite Jackson, Copley and others, but his deal fell through due to scheduling issues. Richmond-Peck has a role in the upcoming television series V set to kick off mid-season on ABC. The article also mentions that the role of Gammons has been offered to anther actor based in Los Angeles.

Casting news is exciting and fun to follow, but I can’t wait until The A-Team moves into the set photo phase. Even some plot rumors would be a nice change of pace.

In addition to my one-on-one interview with director Neill Blomkamp conducted at Comic Con, I also got the chance to talk to District 9's star, Sharlto Copley, during a press day in New York a few weeks ago. He was there with Blomkamp, who did most of the talking, but I thought singling out Copley's statements would be interesting as well. The man who is Wikus van der Merwe in the film hasn't been doing nearly as much press as Blomkamp has, and it was fascinating to hear him talk about his process of becoming a character who undergoes so much over the course of one film.

As you have probably heard by now, District 9 is Copley's acting debut; he's a filmmaker as well, and Blomkamp offered him the role specifically because of his ability to be natural on camera. Check out what he had to say about his highly unusual acting debut below. District 9 is currently playing in theaters, and you should probably be watching it right now.

In the beginning you were showing the documentary crew around District 9, showing the camera where everything is. How much of that was improv?

Sharlto: Well, Neill built a very defined world, and obviously we had the same kind of reference to that world. We had a lot of common references. Basically him and Teri [Tatchell, the screenplay's co-writer] had a script, a structured story. So a scene would take place by Neill going these are the 2, 3, 4 things that have to happen, these are the beats in the scene, then I would improv around that. It was certain constraints as we went along. Continuity would become an issue, physical continuity once I'd committed to a decision.

Especially that pre-transformation stuff was incredibly loose. It was an amazing experience. The experience of [playing] a character who's doing what he thinks and believes is the right thing, and as an actor, I really believe everybody does that. You act from a position of your conditioning as a child, your religious conditioning, your experience in life, what your parents have told you. This was an experience of this character going through having all his conditioning stripped away. All the things he believed in, his support structure, being forced to question his values and question the decisions he had made. And not necessarily having a perfect answer or a perfect solution.

And how about the scenes in which you had a claw?

Yeah, I learned to eat with one hand. I learned a bit of discrimination myself, because [at lunch] nobody wanted to eat with the claw, the bloodied claw with the real human feces on it sometimes. I woud always sort of have to have my hand down.

How does your background as a director affect your acting?

It's really a separate thing with the acting. The way that I act is really simplistic, actually. It's sort of by osmosis. I take in information and then find a voice and get a character. There's no real thought or conscious effort going into that process. Either I am that character or I'm not. The technical understanding of filmmaking was relatively useful in this situation. I was aware of certain restraints with continuinty, with effects, almost subconsciously. [But] once I'm in that character, I'm really not involved in any of that. I'm just doing what I believe he would do in that moment.

Do you think that Wikus starts off as a dork before he becomes this heroic figure?

I can see that people would see it that way, I certainly didn't consciously think about it like that. I approached it from a perspective of a very insecure person who's trying to hide those insecurities, trying to look like he's in control of everything, thinks he's more popular than he really is. Then he goes through the process of all of that being stripped away from him. You see what characters are when you start putting them through stuff. if there's any heroic side of him, that comes out.

I feel like I should apologize for everything I’m about to write here in advance. The thing is I saw District 9 last week and I liked it, I really did. It’s a solid science fiction movie with sharp special effects and a brain rattling around somewhere in its CGI noggin. When you see it, you’ll go nuts for it. It’s likely to engender the kind of broad-based adoration not seen since Star Trek appeared earlier this summer, warped across all walks of life, and became one of those rare movies that everyone agreed was, wow, pretty good. And District 9 is indeed pretty good. In fact District 9 is a lot of things, most of them very positive. One thing it isn’t, though, is original.

Yet if you read some of the early reviews posted for the film, that’s the praise you’ll hear most frequently launched in its direction. The words “fresh”, “original”, “unique”, and “groundbreaking” have been used liberally in describing it and in particular its story. So I guess I’m the only one who’s seen Alien Nation?

The year is 1988 and in theaters is a movie about a near future where alien refugees have landed and humanity is forced to deal with the consequences of their presence. Sound familiar? Hey, that’s the plot of District 9! It’s also the plot of the movie Alien Nation, starring James Caan and Mandy Patinkin, and the acclaimed television series it went on to spawn a year later in 1989. That’s only the tip of the iceberg. District 9 is a great movie. Make sure you’re there, ticket in hand, to see it opening weekend. It’s a fantastic experience and writer/director Neill Blomkamp deserves praise for what he’s accomplished. But it’s not fresh. It’s not original. In fact, whether intentional or by accident, it’s kind of an Alien Nation knockoff.

Want proof? Here it is. Below I break down the similarities but be warned, in doing so I’ll be forced to hack through heavy District 9 spoiler foliage. If you want to see D9 unspoiled then read no further, unless of course you’ve seen Alien Nation, in which case you’re spoiled already.

Saucer Separation

In Alien Nation: When the movie begins Alien Nation’s aliens, called Newcomers, have been on the ground for many years. We never actually see their landing, except in brief flashbacks and stories told by present day characters who were there. Through those flashbacks and stories we learn that the Newcomers descended out of nowhere, with no communication, to hover above the ground near Los Angles, California in a single, massive, saucer-shaped spaceship.

In District 9: When the movie begins District 9‘s aliens, called Prawns, have been on the ground for many years. We never actually see their landing, except in brief flashbacks and stories told by present day characters who were there. Through those flashbacks and stories we learn that the Prawns descended out of nowhere, with no communication, to hover above the ground near Johannesburg, South Africa in a single, massive, saucer-shaped spaceship.

Slave Labor

In District 9: Prawns were bred as workers meant to carry out manual labor. When discovered aboard their ship they appear to be of limited intelligence, almost unable to take care of themselves, though they’re very good at taking orders. Once taken off the ship and brought to Earth things begin to change and there are hints that not only are they intelligent, they may be far smarter than us.

In Alien Nation: Newcomers were bred as workers and slaves meant to carry out manual labor. When discovered aboard their ship they’d been drugged to dull their intelligence and make them obedient, almost to the point that they’re unable to take care of themselves. Once taken off the ship and brought to Earth things begin to change and there are hints that not only are they intelligent, they may be far smarter than us.

Missing Overlords

In Alien Nation: Since Newcomers are basically obedient workers being shuttled around on a transport ship, no one is entirely sure how they got to Earth in the first place. Investigators never discover a ship’s pilot or crew, nor does there seem to be anyone giving orders… at first. Eventually the Newcomers in charge are revealed as a subplot in the film’s subsequent spin-off TV series.

In District 9: Since Prawns are basically obedient workers being shuttled around on a transport ship, no one is entirely sure how they got to Earth in the first place. Investigators never discover a ship’s pilot or crew, nor does there seem to be anyone giving orders… at first. Eventually the Prawns hidden leaders reveal themselves and by the end of the movie we know where the Prawn leader has been hiding.

Name Recognition

In District 9: Prawns are often referred to by a variety of other names, most of which, like Prawn, are really just bigoted slurs. Prawn is not their proper species name. In fact they are and prefer to be called… a complicated name which I’ve forgotten. Hey give me a break. In addition to being given English substitutes for their species name, Prawns are also given human personal names to use in their daily life. For instance, Christopher Johnson is the name of the Prawn lead in District 9.

In Alien Nation: Newcomers are often referred to as Slags, which is regarded as a bigoted slur. Neither Slag nor Newcomer is their proper species name. In fact they are and prefer to be called the Tenctonese. In addition to being given English substitutes for their species name, Newcomers are also given human personal names to use in their daily life. For instance, George Francisco is the name of the Newcomer lead in Alien Nation.

Alien Muscle

In Alien Nation: Aliens look pretty much like bald versions of us, except with spots, but they possess physical strength far beyond that of normal human beings.

In District 9: Aliens look like giant bugs, or prawns as their name suggests, and they possess physical strength far beyond that of normal human beings.

Internment Camps: An Alien Staycation

In District 9: When they first land Prawns are held in internment camps to protect a nervous human population from them.

In Alien Nation: When they first land Newcomers are held for several years in internment camps as they’re processed and certified safe enough to be allowed out in public.

Outer Spacial Descrimination

In District 9: Prawns are used as a stand-in for discriminated against minorities, in particular South Africa’s struggle with Apartheid which was a political and social policy of segregating blacks from whites.

In Alien Nation: Newcomers are used as a stand-in for discriminated against minorities, in particular they symbolize the struggle of black Americans against discrimination during the civil rights movement.

Hater With A Heart Of Gold

In Alien Nation: A bigoted homicide detective is forced to team up with a Newcomer by a government integration program. As they work together to solve crime, the Newcomer begins to win over his human partner who eventually abandons his bigoted views.

In District 9: A bigoted civil servant is forced to team up with a Prawn when circumstances beyond his control force him to take desperate measures. As they work together on a common cause, the bigoted human and wary alien develop a begrudging respect for one another.

Addicted To Gross

In District 9: Prawns are addicted to cat food which affects them like catnip. Though it disgusts humans, they’ll do almost anything to get it.

In Alien Nation: Newcomers are addicted to sour milk which affects them like alcohol. Though it disgusts humans, some aliens will do almost anything to get it.

Something’s Growing On Timmy

In Alien Nation: Two of the major subplots of the spin-off television series and the film involved both a strange substance which has unexpected effects on Newcomers and a dangerous disease which may have been brought to Earth along with the aliens. Newcomers will do anything to hide the truth of both.

In District 9: A strange substance brought to Earth by the Prawns has an unexpected and dangerous affect on humans. Both the Prawns and South Africa’s mega-corporation controlled government will do or say anything to hide the truth of what’s happening.

There you have it. If it were made by Quentin Tarantino District 9 would be an homage. With luck, Blomkamp can get some sort of special QT dispensation.

So maybe it’s not entirely original and maybe it’s not completely unique, at least for anyone born before 1989. That doesn’t mean it’s not worthwhile. Whether knowingly or by accident, what Blomkamp has done is take an old idea and give it his own twist, his own flavor, and done it up in his own style. In some ways he’s made it even better. So to be fair, as long as we’re picking this thing apart here’s a few examples of District 9 going its own way.

Aliens Are Aliens, Not Fleshy-Headed Humans

In District 9: Prawns are nothing like humans. In fact at times, their motivations are almost incomprehensible. They’re not reasonable creatures who want to fit in and get along, often they’re violent, they’re dangerous, they’re flat out gross and maybe it’s not such a bad idea penning them up like cattle and keeping them away from human populations. They just might want to eat us.

In Alien Nation: Though the movie and the television show spend a lot of time telling us how different humans and Newcomers are, when it comes right down to it the aliens are basically bald humans with spots. Sometimes that works to Alien Nation’s advantage. Sexually promiscuous, ultra-sexy alien females are never a bad thing, but mostly it’s the result of what happens when you don’t have the budget necessary to pull something grander off.

Mockument This Christopher Guest

In District 9: The entire film is shot documentary style and put together with cutting edge special effects. Every frame of it feels like something that could happen at any moment, and most of the movie absolutely lives on the edge. Danger lurks around every corner and the tension is frightening and palpable. District 9 is brutal and unflinching, bringing a high-tech horror movie aesthetic to smart science fiction.

In Alien Nation: Both the movie and the television show are shot and scripted like a generic television drama. It never really takes full advantage of its alien premise, again in large part because of budget constraints, but maybe also because it simply lacks the imagination to go there. Whatever the reason, Alien Nation never feels real. It never feels like something that could be happening just outside of town. It never feels dangerous.

James Caan Can’t Compete With Sharlto Copley

In District 9: Neill Blomkamp goes with a complete unknown for the lead in his film, a long time friend named Sharlto Copley. Write that name down, you’ll be hearing a lot more of it. He’s a character actor and a brilliant one. As Wikus Van De Merwe, a somewhat dim-witted civil servant completely out of his depth and in over his head, he’s utterly real. You’ve known people exactly like Wikus, he’s the idiot boss who smiles while announcing layoffs, or the middle manager sucking up to the boss. He’s all at one loathsome and lovable. It’s one of the best performances of the year.

In Alien Nation: In the movie version the human lead is played by James Caan who, doesn’t really seem to understand the script. Caan’s given great performances in his career, but what he gives in Alien Nation is not one of them. It’s as if he doesn’t believe most of what’s going on around him is real, or for that matter even comprehend the words coming out of his mouth, making it pretty difficult for the rest of us to buy into it if he doesn’t.

Greed Isn’t Good

In District 9: The film is indeed a loose allegory for Apartheid but it’s not content with tackling just one social issue. D9 also takes on rampant corporate corruption and if there’s a villain in the movie it’s not a bigoted, fearful populace as much as it is an out of control, evil corporation which will stop and nothing to screw over the human race in order to make a tidy profit. Racism and capitalist greed get crammed, successfully, all into one movie.

In Alien Nation: The film’s fairly standard storyline is easily bogged down and quickly becomes a fairly standard buddy cop movie, even if one of the buddy cops happens to be an alien. The film and the television show do tackle racial issues through discrimination against the Alien newcomers, but it’s usually straightforward without layers other than “hey remember when this used to happen if you were black?”