Neill Blomkamp (; born 17 September 1979) is a South African and Canadian film director and screenwriter. He is known as the co-writer and director of the science fiction action film ''
District 9
''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand ...
'' (2009), for which he was nominated for the
Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
The Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best screenplay adapted from previously established material. The most frequently adapted media are novels, but other adapted narrative formats include stage plays, mus ...
, and the director of the dystopian science fiction action film ''
Elysium
Elysium (), otherwise known as the Elysian Fields (, ''Ēlýsion pedíon''), Elysian Plains or Elysian Realm, is a conception of the afterlife that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philosophical sects and cult ...
'' (2013), which garnered moderately positive reviews. He also directed the science fiction action film ''
Chappie'' (2015) and the sports drama film ''
Gran Turismo'' (2023).
Blomkamp employs a documentary-style,
hand-held,
cinéma vérité
Cinéma vérité (, , ) is a style of documentary filmmaking developed by Edgar Morin and Jean Rouch, inspired by Dziga Vertov's theory about '' Kino-Pravda''. It combines improvisation with use of the camera to unveil truth or highlight subje ...
technique, blending naturalistic and photo-realistic
computer-generated visual effects
Visual effects (sometimes abbreviated as VFX) is the process by which imagery is created or manipulated outside the context of
a live-action shot in filmmaking and video production.
The integration of live-action footage and other live-action fo ...
, and his films often deal with themes of
xenophobia
Xenophobia (from (), 'strange, foreign, or alien', and (), 'fear') is the fear or dislike of anything that is perceived as being foreign or strange. It is an expression that is based on the perception that a conflict exists between an in-gr ...
and
social segregation.
He is also known for his collaborations with actor
Sharlto Copley.
''
Time
Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
'' named Blomkamp as one of the 100 Most Influential People of 2009. A 2011 article in ''
Forbes
''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine founded by B. C. Forbes in 1917. It has been owned by the Hong Kong–based investment group Integrated Whale Media Investments since 2014. Its chairman and editor-in-chief is Steve Forbes. The co ...
'' named him as the 21st most powerful celebrity from Africa.
Early life
Blomkamp was born in
Johannesburg
Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...
, South Africa. At the age of sixteen, he met
Sharlto Copley, who had also attended
Redhill High School in Johannesburg. Copley provided Blomkamp with the use of computers at his production company for Blomkamp to pursue his passion and talent for
3D animation and design. In return, Blomkamp assisted Copley in creating 3D work for pitches on various projects. Blomkamp was 18 when he moved to
Vancouver
Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...
with his family, where he enrolled at the
Vancouver Film School.
Career
Early works
In the late 1990s, he started working in the film industry as a visual effects artist and 3D animator. His animation credits include ''
Stargate SG-1
''Stargate SG-1'' (often stylized in all caps, or abbreviated ''SG-1'') is a military science fiction Adventure fiction, adventure television series within Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate, ''Stargate'' franchise. The show, created by Brad Wrig ...
'' (1998), ''
First Wave'' (1998), ''
Mercy Point
''Mercy Point'' is an American Science fiction on television, science fiction medical drama, created by Trey Callaway, David Simkins, and Milo Frank, which originally aired for one season on United Paramount Network (UPN) from October ...
'' (1998) and ''
Aftershock: Earthquake in New York'' (1999). In 2000, he garnered his first role of lead animator for the ''
Dark Angel'' TV series (2000). He was the lead 3D animator for ''
3000 Miles to Graceland'' (2001).
In 2003, he was hired to illustrate photo-realistic future aircraft for ''
Popular Science
Popular science (also called pop-science or popsci) is an interpretation of science intended for a general audience. While science journalism focuses on recent scientific developments, popular science is more broad ranging. It may be written ...
s "Next Century in Aviation". In 2004, he illustrated "The Future of the Automobile". Blomkamp worked as a visual effects artist at
The Embassy Visual Effects in Vancouver as well as at
Rainmaker Digital Effects, and was signed by Toronto commercial house Spy Films. In 2007, to promote the release of ''
Halo 3'', Blomkamp directed a trilogy of live-action short films set in the ''
Halo
HALO, halo, halos or haloes may refer to:
Most common meanings
* Halo (optical phenomenon)
* Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head
* ''Halo'' (franchise), a sci-fi video game series (2001–2021)
Arts and en ...
'' universe, known collectively as ''Landfall''.
Blomkamp was then slated to direct his first feature-length film, an adaptation of the ''Halo'' series of video games, produced by
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand filmmaker. He is best known as the director, writer, and producer of the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy (2001–2003) and the ''Hobbit'' trilogy (2012–2014), both of which ar ...
. Jackson came to know of Blomkamp after viewing a reel of his commercial work and shorts, shot in his off time. The four shorts that got him noticed included: ''Tetra Vaal'', a faux advertisement for a third-world police robot that established Blomkamp's signature style of mixing lo-fi production with seamless CGI; ''
Alive in Joburg'', a gritty
mockumentary
A mockumentary (a portmanteau of ''mock'' and ''documentary'') is a type of film or television show depicting fictional events, but presented as a Documentary film, documentary. Mockumentaries are often used to analyze or comment on current event ...
about extraterrestrials marooned in Johannesburg; ''Tempbot'', an ''
Office Space
''Office Space'' is a 1999 American satirical black comedy film written and directed by Mike Judge. It satirizes the office work life of a typical 1990s software company, focusing on a handful of individuals weary of their jobs. It stars Ron ...
''-esque spoof; and ''
Yellow
Yellow is the color between green and orange on the spectrum of light. It is evoked by light with a dominant wavelength of roughly 575585 nm. It is a primary color in subtractive color systems, used in painting or color printing. In t ...
'', a short film based on the colour yellow for Adidas' "Adicolor" campaign by digital studio IDEALOGUE, which portrays a globe-trotting android gone rogue. Blomkamp has admitted since that the ''Halo'' pre-production was a nightmare, and relations between 20th Century Fox and Blomkamp severely disintegrated before the project's end.
Sci-fi trilogy

When funding for the ''Halo'' film collapsed,
Peter Jackson
Sir Peter Robert Jackson (born 31 October 1961) is a New Zealand filmmaker. He is best known as the director, writer, and producer of the ''Lord of the Rings'' trilogy (2001–2003) and the ''Hobbit'' trilogy (2012–2014), both of which ar ...
decided to produce ''
District 9
''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand ...
'' instead, an adaptation of Blomkamp's earlier short film ''Alive in Joburg'', which had been produced by Hansen and Copley. The film, directed by Blomkamp, starring Copley, and co-written with Blomkamp's wife and production partner
Terri Tatchell, was released in mid-August 2009 by
TriStar Pictures
TriStar Pictures, Inc. (spelled as Tri-Star until 1991) is an American film studio and production company that is part of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, which is part of the Japanese conglomerate Sony, Sony Group Corporation.
The compan ...
to widespread critical acclaim and became a box office success, earning $210 million worldwide. ''District 9'' was later nominated for the 2010
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film a ...
, along with nominations for Best Visual Effects, Editing, and Adapted Screenplay.
In October 2010, a video released on the
iPad
The iPad is a brand of tablet computers developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple that run the company's mobile operating systems iOS and later iPadOS. The IPad (1st generation), first-generation iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010. ...
version of ''
Wired Magazine
''Wired'' is a bi-monthly American magazine that focuses on how emerging technologies affect culture, the economy, and politics. It is published in both print and Online magazine, online editions by Condé Nast. The magazine has been in public ...
'' was credited to Neill Blomkamp. It shows an amateur recording of two young men who find a dead mutated creature in a puddle of mud while driving down a countryside road. The creature, a dog-sized mix between a pig and a lizard, presents a tattooed seal on its side that reads "18.12 AGM Heartland Pat. Pend. USA". "AGM Heartland" was trademarked for its use in an entertainment-oriented website. On 20 February 2012, a 23-second video clip titled "IS IT DEAD?" appeared on YouTube, featuring
Yolandi Visser, of the South African group
Die Antwoord
Die Antwoord (; ) is a South African hip hop duo formed in Cape Town in 2008. The duo consists of rappers Ninja and Yolandi Visser (also spelled Yo-Landi Visser and stylized as ¥o-Landi Vi$$er). Their music, a fusion of hip hop with rave mu ...
, crouching over the creature. Blomkamp admitted that he was still interested in making a ''Halo'' film in April 2013.
After ''
Elysium
Elysium (), otherwise known as the Elysian Fields (, ''Ēlýsion pedíon''), Elysian Plains or Elysian Realm, is a conception of the afterlife that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philosophical sects and cult ...
'', he started work on his next sci-fi film, ''
Chappie'', in April 2013. The film was based on his own short, ''Tetra Vaal''. Blomkamp directed and
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. is an American diversified multinational mass media and entertainment studio conglomerate that produces, acquires, and distributes filmed entertainment (theatrical motion pictures, television programs, and rec ...
(
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., Trade name, doing business as Columbia Pictures, is an American film Production company, production and Film distributor, distribution company that is the flagship unit of the Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group ...
) and
Media Rights Capital co-produced and co-financed the film, which was released March 2015.
Сollectively, ''District 9, Elysium'', and ''Chappie'' are sometimes referred to as a
film trilogy that shares distinctive aesthetics and social themes.
Failed projects and short films
In early 2015, Blomkamp posted several pictures to his Instagram page that showed concept art for an ''
Alien'' film he might have been working on. Included in the art is Ripley and Hicks, a ship bearing resemblance to ''The Derelict'' from the 1979 ''Alien'', and a concept Xenomorph. In a February 2015 interview with ''Collider'', he stated that he planned the ''Alien'' sequel with
Sigourney Weaver
Susan Alexandra ( ; born October 8, 1949), better known by her stage name Sigourney Weaver, is an American actress. Prolific in film since the late 1970s, she is known for her pioneering portrayals of action heroines in Blockbuster (entertainme ...
in the lead role as
Ellen Ripley. On 18 February 2015, Blomkamp himself confirmed that the ''Alien'' film will be his next project. In March 2015, he confirmed that he planned more than one sequel to the
''Alien'' franchise. The project was shelved in October 2015, pending the outcome of
Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer. He directs films in the Science fiction film, science fiction, Crime film, crime, and historical drama, historical epic genres, with an atmospheric and highly co ...
's second prequel installment, ''
Alien: Covenant''. In January 2017, a fan on Twitter asked Blomkamp about the outlook of the film going into production, he responded by saying they were "slim".
On 1 May 2017, its title had been revealed to be ''Alien: Awakening''. Ridley Scott confirmed Blomkamp's film had been officially canceled. Fans of the franchise started a petition to help save Blomkamp's cancelled film. Since then, there have been no further developments.
In November 2015, it was announced that Blomkamp would be working on adapting the forthcoming
Tom Sweterlitsch novel ''The Gone World'', described as a "sci-fi time travel" concept, but the film was either subsequently scrapped or stuck in "
development hell
Development hell, also known as development purgatory or development limbo, is media and software industry jargon for a project, concept, or idea that remains in a stage of early development for a long time because of legal, technical, or artistic ...
," with production never going forward.
In 2017, Blomkamp announced the creation of his own film production company,
Oats Studios, and confirmed a series of experimental short films and other content titled ''Oats Studios Volume 1'' to be released via
Steam
Steam is water vapor, often mixed with air or an aerosol of liquid water droplets. This may occur due to evaporation or due to boiling, where heat is applied until water reaches the enthalpy of vaporization. Saturated or superheated steam is inv ...
. The films will also be available for free streaming on YouTube. These films are distributed to gauge interest in a certain theme, with the intention to expand them into a feature film if deemed viable. The first short, an alien invasion-themed film co-written with Sweterlitsch, is titled ''
Rakka''.
In July 2018, Blomkamp announced that he would be directing a new entry in the
''RoboCop'' film series for
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, commonly shortened to MGM or MGM Studios) is an American Film production, film and television production and film distribution, distribution company headquartered ...
. The film was to be adapted from a previously-unproduced
spec script
A spec script, also known as a speculative screenplay, is a non-commissioned and unsolicited screenplay. It is usually written by a screenwriter who hopes to have the script optioned and eventually purchased by a producer, production company, or ...
written in the late 1980s by
Edward Neumeier
Edward Neumeier (born August 24, 1957) is an American screenwriter best known for his work on the science fiction movies ''RoboCop'' and ''Starship Troopers (film), Starship Troopers''. He wrote the latter's sequels ''Starship Troopers 2: Hero o ...
and Michael Miner, the writers of the
first film, who were slated to executive produce the film.
Tentatively titled ''
RoboCop Returns'', the film was to serve as a direct sequel to the first film, ignoring 1990's ''
RoboCop 2'' and 1993's ''
RoboCop 3'', as well as the
2014 remake.
On 15 August 2019, Blomkamp announced on Twitter that he is no longer directing ''RoboCop Returns'' as he is focusing on directing a horror movie instead.
Return to larger projects
In December 2020, it was revealed that Blomkamp had secretly shot a supernatural horror film, ''
Demonic'', in British Columbia during the summer of 2020 amidst the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
.
In August 2021, it was confirmed that the sequel to ''District 9'' was in the works but that the script was still under development. In 2022, it was announced that he would direct the sports film ''
Gran Turismo'' based on
the video game series and the true story of
Jann Mardenborough, a teenage ''Gran Turismo'' player that later would become an actual racing driver.
In March 2025, Columbia Pictures tapped Blomkamp to write and direct an adaptation of
Robert A. Heinlein's military science fiction novel
''Starship Troopers''. He is also reportedly working on an adaptation of
Peter Watts's novel
''Blindsight''.
Video games
In 2020, Blomkamp joined Gunzilla Games as Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer. He began work on ''
OFF THE GRID'' and the game went into early access on October 8, 2024. His company acquired ''
Game Informer
''Game Informer'' (''GI'' is an American monthly Video game journalism, video game magazine featuring articles, news, strategy, and reviews of video games and video game console, game consoles. It debuted in August 1991, when the video game reta ...
'' from
GameStop
GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas (a suburb of Dallas). The brand is the largest video game retailer worldwide. , the company operated 3,203 stor ...
, restarting its publication after seven months.
Personal life
Blomkamp is a
naturalised Canadian citizen. He is married to screenwriter
Terri Tatchell.
Filmography
Feature film
Video commercials
Short film
Other roles
Recognition
*2004,
Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival
The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity (formerly the International Advertising Festival) is a global event for those working in creative communications, advertising, and related fields. It is considered the largest gathering of the ...
- "Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors Showcase"
*2004, First Boards Awards - "One of the top five directors to watch"
*2004, Shark Awards (shortlisted)
*
2005, VES awards "Outstanding VFX in a commercial" for ''Citroën - Alive with technology''
*2008, Cannes Lions 2008 - Film Lions- Grand Prix - ''Halo: Combat''
*2009, Nominated -
Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - ''
District 9
''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand ...
''
*2009, Nominated -
Satellite Award for Best Director &
Satellite Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - ''
District 9
''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand ...
''
*2009, Won -
Bradbury Award
The Ray Bradbury Nebula Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation (formerly the Ray Bradbury Award for Outstanding Dramatic Presentation) is given each year by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA) for science fiction or fan ...
from the
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, doing business as Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and commonly known as SFWA ( or ) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization of professional science fiction and fantasy writers. Whi ...
- ''
District 9
''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand ...
''
*2010, Nominated -
Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
The Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay is the Academy Award for the best screenplay adapted from previously established material. The most frequently adapted media are novels, but other adapted narrative formats include stage plays, mus ...
, Nominated -
Academy Award for Best Picture
The Academy Award for Best Picture is one of the Academy Awards (also known as Oscars) presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) since the awards debuted in 1929. This award goes to the producers of the film a ...
2009 - ''
District 9
''District 9'' is a 2009 science fiction action film directed by Neill Blomkamp in his feature film debut, written by Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, and produced by Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham. It is a co-production of New Zealand ...
'' (written by Neill Blomkamp and
Terri Tatchell)
Reception
Critical, public, and commercial reception to films Blomkamp has directed:
See also
*
Neill Blomkamp's unrealized projects
References
External links
*
Neill Blomkamp interview at AMCtv.comNeill Blomkamp interview with Comic-ConWebsite for Spy Films productions
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blomkamp, Neill
1979 births
Living people
Afrikaner people
Artists from Vancouver
Action film directors
Canadian people of Afrikaner descent
Canadian science fiction film directors
Mass media people from Johannesburg
Film directors from Vancouver
Nebula Award winners
South African science fiction film directors
South African emigrants to Canada
South African film directors
Canadian visual effects artists
Vancouver Film School alumni