After the success of 2009′s District 9 writer/director Neill Blomkamp had his choice of projects and could have easily cashed in big on his original sci-fi tale. Instead, he decided to follow it up with another sci-fi political allegory, a mystery project called Elysium.

An impressive international cast was quickly assembled, including Matt Damon, Sharlto Copley, William Fichtner, Jodie Foster, Alice Braga and Diego Luna but little was known about the actual film. Rumors circulated that it would be set in the near future and center around anglo-hispanic tensions. Time would debunk that rumor, as we now have an official synopsis from the film.
 

In the year 2159 two classes of people exist: the very wealthy who live on a pristine man-made space station called Elysium, and the rest, who live on an overpopulated, ruined Earth. Secretary Rhodes (Jodie Foster), a hardline government official, will stop at nothing to enforce anti-immigration laws and preserve the luxurious lifestyle of the citizens of Elysium. That doesn’t stop the people of Earth from trying to get in, by any means they can. When unlucky Max (Matt Damon) is backed into a corner, he agrees to take on a daunting mission that if successful will not only save his life, but could bring equality to these polarized worlds.

Elyisum gets one of those early “summer kick-off” slots next year, opening March 1, 2013.