After starring in big-budget action franchises, Matt Damon
finally stars in his first live-action, full-on science fiction
blockbuster with "Elysium." Damon's leading-man looks get
covered by a thick coat of grime and grit in the film, courtesy
of a post-apocalyptic Earth where the entire human race lives
in slums and works in factories. Well, not all of the human
race; the elite few rich enough and powerful enough to make
their way to the space station Elysium live in the lap of luxury,
free of poverty, war, and disease.
While it lacks the new film's overt social commentary, the
original "Star Wars" broke new ground in 1977 by presenting a
run-down scifi universe, with a level of wear and tear that
seems to have inspired at least half of "Elysium's" aesthetic.
With a new "Star Wars" movie on the way, MTV News' Josh
Horowitz had to ask Damon about his thoughts on returning
to a galaxy far, far away."I'm happy that [director] J.J.
[Abrams] is doing it," answered Damon. "I remember when
they made the second batch [starting in 1999], and I was so
kind of nervous about it. Ultimately I think that the first three
— they exist and nothing can affect them, so why not? If you
can get a J.J. Abrams to — if you can get buy-in from him,
then that's the best shot of [getting the film on the right
path]."Damon wouldn't reveal if he's pursuing a role in the
film, but at this point every A-list Hollywood star has been
rumored to be involved. Starring in the film wouldn't be a
stretch for Damon, who recently revealed to MTV that he's a
lifelong sci-fi fan ." 'Blade Runner' and 'Alien,' and 'Star Wars,'"
said Damon, listing some of his favorite sci-fi films from his
youth. "So yeah, I'm a big fan."With "Elysium," Damon could
find himself at the center of his own "Star Wars"-esque
franchise. Director Neill Blomkamp turned heads with his 2009
directorial debut, "District 9," which became one of a select
few science fiction films to receive a Best Picture nomination
at the Academy Awards. Damon previously said that
Blomkamp's world building for "Elysium" was massive in
scope, with the director pulling out graphic novels and books
filled with weapon systems and vehicles for the harsh future
world — most of which reside solely in the background of the
film they created.But before he furthers his possibly
expanding career as a sci-fi star, Damon has a few other
projects to pay attention to: playing the lead in a biopic about
mob boss Whitey Bulger, and being a father."I think Ben
[Affleck] and I just figured out our kind of angle of attack on
the movie," Damon said when asked if Bulger's recent trial has
had any effect on the biopic's progress. "It's a tough one. We
don't want to make something that's been made before.
We've got some work to do, but I think we cracked it
conceptually."Any plans for the actor to get behind the camera
like his buddy Ben Affleck have also been put on hold. "I'm
probably not going to direct in the short term. Right now, this
fall, we're going to L.A. and we gotta be around to make sure
the kids like school and all that stuff. So I'm going to be a dad
in the short term." "Elysium" opens in theaters on August 9.
finally stars in his first live-action, full-on science fiction
blockbuster with "Elysium." Damon's leading-man looks get
covered by a thick coat of grime and grit in the film, courtesy
of a post-apocalyptic Earth where the entire human race lives
in slums and works in factories. Well, not all of the human
race; the elite few rich enough and powerful enough to make
their way to the space station Elysium live in the lap of luxury,
free of poverty, war, and disease.
While it lacks the new film's overt social commentary, the
original "Star Wars" broke new ground in 1977 by presenting a
run-down scifi universe, with a level of wear and tear that
seems to have inspired at least half of "Elysium's" aesthetic.
With a new "Star Wars" movie on the way, MTV News' Josh
Horowitz had to ask Damon about his thoughts on returning
to a galaxy far, far away."I'm happy that [director] J.J.
[Abrams] is doing it," answered Damon. "I remember when
they made the second batch [starting in 1999], and I was so
kind of nervous about it. Ultimately I think that the first three
— they exist and nothing can affect them, so why not? If you
can get a J.J. Abrams to — if you can get buy-in from him,
then that's the best shot of [getting the film on the right
path]."Damon wouldn't reveal if he's pursuing a role in the
film, but at this point every A-list Hollywood star has been
rumored to be involved. Starring in the film wouldn't be a
stretch for Damon, who recently revealed to MTV that he's a
lifelong sci-fi fan ." 'Blade Runner' and 'Alien,' and 'Star Wars,'"
said Damon, listing some of his favorite sci-fi films from his
youth. "So yeah, I'm a big fan."With "Elysium," Damon could
find himself at the center of his own "Star Wars"-esque
franchise. Director Neill Blomkamp turned heads with his 2009
directorial debut, "District 9," which became one of a select
few science fiction films to receive a Best Picture nomination
at the Academy Awards. Damon previously said that
Blomkamp's world building for "Elysium" was massive in
scope, with the director pulling out graphic novels and books
filled with weapon systems and vehicles for the harsh future
world — most of which reside solely in the background of the
film they created.But before he furthers his possibly
expanding career as a sci-fi star, Damon has a few other
projects to pay attention to: playing the lead in a biopic about
mob boss Whitey Bulger, and being a father."I think Ben
[Affleck] and I just figured out our kind of angle of attack on
the movie," Damon said when asked if Bulger's recent trial has
had any effect on the biopic's progress. "It's a tough one. We
don't want to make something that's been made before.
We've got some work to do, but I think we cracked it
conceptually."Any plans for the actor to get behind the camera
like his buddy Ben Affleck have also been put on hold. "I'm
probably not going to direct in the short term. Right now, this
fall, we're going to L.A. and we gotta be around to make sure
the kids like school and all that stuff. So I'm going to be a dad
in the short term." "Elysium" opens in theaters on August 9.
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