‘Elysium’ Plot Details: What is Neill Blomkamp’s Film Actually About?

Even though we know precious little about Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Elysium,’ the sci-fi thriller tops any “Anticipated Titles” list we’d make for 2013. That’s what happens when you deliver a blistering piece of sci-fi/political agitprop like Blomkamp’s ‘District 9.’ The world’s now paying attention. Do you want to know what ‘Elysium’ will be about? Because a new plot synopsis spells out the details.

Collider picked up an invite to a test screening for the upcoming thriller, which stars Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, ‘District 9’ standout Sharlto Copley, William Fichtner and Diego Luna in a sci-fi story set in a distant future that’s rocked by race turmoil.

For a while, we thought the races at war would be Caucasian and Latinos, thanks to plot threads we were being fed. Now, it sounds like Blomkamp’s going to use complicated space relations once again divide his characters and make timely political statements.

According to the screening invite, the plot involves:

In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hard government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

Blomkamp has been working on ‘Elysium’ for some time now, making us wait longer than we’d anticipated. But given how excellent ‘District 9’ was – and considering the fact that he’s working with ‘Blade Runner’ designer Syd Mead – we can count down the weeks (or months) until his latest reaches theaters on March 1, 2013.