'Elite Squad' Star Wagner Moura To Play Villain In Neill Blomkamp's 'Elysium'

Wagner Moura, the star of the popular Brazilian crime thrillers The Elite Squad and The Elite Squad 2, has signed on to play the villain in District 9 director Neill Blomkamp's second feature Elysium. Moura joins Jodie Foster, Matt Damon and Sharlto Copley.

The movie will be R-rated, set 150 years in the future and has the social allegory elements ala District 9. Plot details are minimal, but Blomkamp has described that the story as "totally original," "very violent, and very unique." He has also said that "It is absolutely another science fiction film, quite different from District 9, but some of the blending of genres and the tone might be within the same realm." Damon's character is an ex-con.

LatinoReview broke the story. THR notes that Moura's villain character is "described as having a crazy sense of humor."Syd Mead, aka the 'futurist' who created many of the most memorable designs for Blade Runner will be designing sets for the project.  Elysium is reportedly set to shoot starting late this spring, with production kicking off in Vancouver before moving to Mexico. Sony is set to distribute the film worldwide, with tenative plans to release the movie during the 2012 holidays.