Way back in 2009, District 9 joined the elite few sci-fi films ever to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar and director Neill Blomkamp aims to follow it up with an equally ambitious sci-fi/political commentary film- Elysium.

Similarly to District 9, this film focuses on a society split apart by social barriers. In the year 2159, people either live on idyllic space-colony of Elysium, reserved for the ultra-rich, or on the charred, scarred remains of Earth. Matt Damon plays Max Coburn a man on a desperate mission to get to Elyisum, which is governed by the cold, tight-lipped Secretary Jessica Delacourt, played by Jodie Foster.

While it’s not entirely likely that Elysium will follow District 9‘s precedence of playing the award nomination game, the obvious social commentary here paired with Blomkamp’s intelligent directing and stars Damon and Foster surely won’t be working against it’s favor.

Although I’m going to try and hold off, take a look for yourself at this (most likely) intriguing first trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvqjwTQ1Kqk

TriStar Pictures will release Elysium on August 13, 2013.