Neill Blomkamp announces that he has commenced writing a script for the sequel to District 9

District 9 sequel is in the works with original director Neill Blomkamp and star Sharlto Copley co-writing the screenplay

Neill Blomkamp has announced that he has begun work on the script for a sequel to his 2009 science fiction-action film District 9.

The 41-year-old writer and director made the announcement through his Twitter account on Thursday afternoon.

In the tweet, he also pointed out that he would be co-authoring the script with his wife Terri Tatchell, who also co-wrote the screenplay for the first film, and Sharlto Copley, who starred in the picture.

In the works: On Friday, Neil Blomkamp announced that he was writing a screenplay for a sequel to his 2009 film District 9; the filmmaker is pictured in 2015

The statement read, ‘District 10 screenplay also being written by @sharlto @territatchell and I. Its coming…’

District 9 was based on a 2006 short film entitled Alive In Joburg, which Blomkamp and Copley also collaborated on.

The Lord Of The Rings franchise director Peter Jackson also stepped in as a producer for the feature-length project.

The film is centered on Wikus van de Merwe, a government employee who was tasked with keeping tabs on a South African colony of aliens, who are derogatorily referred to as ‘prawns.’

Helping out: The science fiction-action film's star Shalrto Copley is also working on the script for the upcoming feature; he is seen at the 2018 premiere of Gringo

Helping out: The science fiction-action film’s star Shalrto Copley is also working on the script for the upcoming feature; he is seen at the 2018 premiere of Gringo

Frequent collaborator: Blomkamp's wife Terri Tatchell is also co-writing the script for the project, which is tentatively titled District 10; she is seen in 2010

Frequent collaborator: Blomkamp’s wife Terri Tatchell is also co-writing the script for the project, which is tentatively titled District 10; she is seen in 2010

When van de Merwe is exposed to an alien pathogen, he slowly starts transforming into one of the creatures he was meant to control.

The film received high critical praise upon its release for its blending of action sequences with found footage-style filmmaking; it also brought in over $210 million at the box office. 

District 9 was the subject of interest for its social commentary and allusions to apartheid-era South Africa.  

The feature was ultimately nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Visual Effects. 

Making it public: The filmmaker made the big announcement through his Twitter account on Thursday

Making it public: The filmmaker made the big announcement through his Twitter account on Thursday

Serious impact: District 9 received high critical praise upon its release and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including for Best Picture

Serious impact: District 9 received high critical praise upon its release and was nominated for multiple Academy Awards, including for Best Picture

Blomkamp teased the idea of a sequel after the original film’s release, although he never confirmed anything until Thursday’s tweet.

In an interview with Verge, the director remarked that, with District 9, he wanted to tell a story that expressed something more than a face level science fiction feature. 

Specifically, the filmmaker said that the film ‘existed because it was an allegory directly connected to apartheid.’

Blomkamp also stated that he was interested in working on projects that blended intense visuals with more mature themes.

‘As long as there’s a deeper core that you’re striving for with each piece, I am really game — and as long as it’s in this horror / science fiction / fantasy realm, then I’m there,’ he noted. 

Deeper themes: During an interview, Blomkamp commented that he intended District 9 to be 'an allegory directly connected to apartheid'

Deeper themes: During an interview, Blomkamp commented that he intended District 9 to be ‘an allegory directly connected to apartheid’