District 9 Sequel Not Happening Any Time Soon

Spoiler Warning: When it’s revealed at the end of District 9, that our hero Wikus is in fact alive and well (albeit fully transformed into a prawn), I cheered. After all the shit that poor schmuck goes through during its 112 minute running length, I was genuinely happy to see him still kicking. Granted, such an interpretation of that ending is up for debate. There was also the promise of the film’s other lead Christopher and his son coming back and turning Wikus back to his human form.

So there was sequel opportunity if the movie was a success. Boy, was it a hit. $200 million worldwide box-office later (against its reported $30 million budget), there were plenty of those who wanted a return to the world created by its writer/director Neil Blomkamp. Well don’t expect to see a follow-up any time soon, according to Deadline Hollywood.

The site states that Blomkamp and producer Peter Jackson are just plain too busy right now to focus on a District 9 sequel. It could happen “at some point” says one contact. Blomkamp is already working on his next directorial effort and Jackson has The Hobbit and Tintin on his slate among others. Hell, even Sharlto Copley is a busy man – what with him playing “Howling Mad” Murdock in The A-Team for next summer.

As much as I loved District 9 (and would give Blomkamp and his team the benefit of the doubt), I’d rather not see a sequel get made. Isn’t it much better to use your imagination and determine on your own whether Christopher fulfilled his promise and made Wikus human again?