Jul 9 2009 05:06 PM ET

'District 9': The trailer that makes me want a 'Halo' movie, ASAP!

Once upon a time, Peter Jackson was hired by Universal and Fox to oversee Halo, the film version of Microsoft's killer military/sci-fi videogame. Exhausted from shooting the Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong, Jackson opted to executive produce. The man he wanted to direct Halo was Neill Blomkamp, who had nary a feature credit to his name but had shot a stunning short called Alive in Joburg, about aliens living a segregated life in South Africa. Halo eventually fell apart: the stated reason was that the budget had spiraled out of control, but underneath that was the fact that no one wanted to spend ungodly sums of money on a Halo movie that Jackson himself didn't direct. No one wanted to be in the Neill Blomkamp business. Something tells me that District 9 might change some minds.

A feature-length faux-verite exploration of the themes Blomkamp touched on in Alive in Joburg — segregation, alienation, supression — District also looks like it kicks its fair share of ass. Flamethrowers, mech suits, snatching missiles right out of the air? Hot damn, I'm in.

What about you? And wouldn't you go see a Halo movie done with the same kind of grit? I know I would.

Comments (1-13) of 13 Add your comment

  • crispy

    This could very well be the best movie of the year (James Cameron’s return notwithstanding). It looks like Independence Day for people with brains.

  • harry

    this looks awesome!!! whats the hold up with halo!!!

  • Ceballos

    This movie looks terrific.
    Also, I resemble your remark crispy! I have a brain AND I enjoy “Independence Day”…I just remove it and gently set it on a pedestal next to me whenever I watch it.

  • crispy

    Hah! Ceballos, I should have clarified “people USING their brains.” :)

  • bizarro

    ceballos rocks. period.

  • bizarro

    oh yea and this movie looks hella awesome!!! makes me wonder if this guy decides to replace Michael Bay for the next Transformers and actually make it ABOUT something

  • darclyte

    I remember the viral website over a year ago and have been waiting for a trailer ever since. I’m glad it looks like I won’t be disappointed.

  • Perry L

    I like alien stories – this one looks different in a good way. Just finished reading Pyramids of Mars online, so now I ready for another. Bring it on!

  • elly

    Fantastic. Too bad Blomkamp’s name isn’t anywhere on the trailer. I actually wouldn’t watch Halo directed by Peter Jackson (at least not if I had to pay for it), because of how much he likes melodrama, amply seen with weird plot additions in LOTR. He’d probably have Cortana download into some chick’s body, so that her and the Chief could get jiggy with it. Let’s face it, their love is strange enough as it is.
    Halo directed by Neil Blomkamp? If District 9 is as good as its trailer, I’d look forward to that. It could be as good as Aliens!. I’m getting excited just imagining it.

  • aaron

    district does look awesome. if the y do decide to do the halo movie i hope they follow the book series “the fall of reach” and it is too epic of a story to just have one movie. and they really need to pick the cast well, really don’t wanna see christian bale as master chief!

  • whiteshadow001

    this guy should make a halo movie no doubt. but this guy would make an amazing gundam movie.

  • AlBme

    Beats the old movie/TV show — “Alien Nation”

  • bob

    District 9 waz one of the best movies i have ever seeen i a longggggg timee!!!! go c if for thoughs of u who havent and they need to make the halo movie no one else!!

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