Director Neill Blomkamp says District 9 computer game would be “fascinating”

Yesterday, we delved into the issue of transferring movies into computer games, with industry insider Bob Jacob admitting it’s a flawed and problematic process due to frustrating time restrictions ("Reality is that the time it takes a film to [hit theatres after being green-lit] is never more than a year. What kind of a game can you do in a year? Generally a piece of crap,” he says). A truth that doesn’t escape Blomkamp, despite his love of video games.

“The idea of District 9 as a video game stresses me out a little bit because games based on movies rarely work,” he reveals. “And movies based on games don’t work – I don’t know what’s up with that.” That’s not to say that the prospect doesn’t excite him, as he concedes that “ District 9 as a game would be fascinating,” with many interesting aspects. “I think a virtual environment of the slums of Soweto is an appealing idea to me,” he adds. “The weapons are cool, too. I photographed the film in a way that isn’t that different than video game perspective in some parts. So a game would be interesting to me.”

Interesting to us and many other gamers as well we’re sure, yet the final decision on whether we get to indulge in a little role play with Wikus isn’t all down to Blomkamp. “Ultimately the person with the most control is Peter [Jackson, yes he of The Lord of the Rings and the producer of District 9, but I for sure would have some influence over whether that happens or not.”

And does he think this is likely or not? “There’s nothing happening with it though,” he says. Maybe not right now, but we’re prepared to be patient. They could get cracking with it now to coincide with the release of a possible sequel/ prequel, avoiding that scheduling crush that Bob Jacob bemoaned. See – sorted!

To read the full series of interviews with Neill Blomkamp, hit here.