District 9 Sequel Buzz Already Takes Off

A District 9 sequel seems far fetched to talk about, since District 9 just came out. But a District 9 sequel may already be in demand, because a District 9 sequel may be just as much of a phenomenon as the original seems to be. If District 9 box office is as good as everyone expects, the District 9 sequel may be locked up very quick. This isn't bad for a movie that almost no one had heard of going into May 2009, but soon enough, everyone who saw District 9 may be clamoring for the sequel.

Yesterday, the highly anticipated sci-fi allegory finally opened after months of hype and raves. Now that audiences themselves are finally seeing it, and probably planning to see it again, District 9 sequel talk is likely going to jump through the roof after this weekend.

Word is that there are a lot of loose ends left over at the end of District 9, which only a sequel could tie up. Considering the rave reviews and likely box office victory this weekend, studios may want a District 9 sequel just as badly as audiences do.

Since the original cost only $30 million, and may make more than that on opening weekend, Columbia/Tri-Star stands to make more than a mint with District 9. Since director Neil Blomkamp and producer Peter Jackson probably wouldn't need more than $30 million to make a District 9 sequel, Tri-Star would likely jump at the chance for a repeat performance.

For all the District 9 sequel talk, would Blomkamp and Jackson actually be ready to make one? Jackson is currently finishing up his latest film in front of the camera, The Lovely Bones. With Blomkamp about to become the new hottest director in Hollywood, he would have to agree to a District 9 sequel quickly, before he gets offered more movies.

Even though it seems premature to talk of District 9 sequel just after it came out, it is not uncommon. Big budget movies usually get sequels locked up all the time after a big opening weekend, though this movie is hardly a traditional big budget blockbuster.

Just this summer, another sleeper hit had a sequel locked up before it was even released. The Hangover received a sequel deal weeks before the film came out and made over $200 million, which was the first sign that it would be the first surprise hit of the summer. District 9 is now poised to be the second biggest surprise.

Meanwhile, audiences are still discovering the original District 9 this weekend, and possibly getting revved up for a District 10 at some point.

Sources

MSNBC.com- "District 9 could be stealth summer hit" www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32409849/ns/entertainment/

Inside Movies- "Who Is Sharlto Copley? Meet the Unlikely Star of 'District 9'" www.moviefone.com/insidemovies/2009/08/13/star-district-9-sharlto-copley/

FirstShowing.net- "Warner Brothers Already Developing The Hangover Sequel" www.firstshowing.net/2009/04/05/warner-brothers-already-moving-forward-on-a-sequel-to-the-hangover/