Hugh Jackman To Star In Neill Blomkamp’s ‘Chappie,’ Possible Broadway Stint

Hugh Jackman will star in Neill Blomkamp’s upcoming film Chappie.

The Australian actor, who is at the Zurich Film Festival to receive the Golden Icon Award, confirmed he will star in Blompkamp’s new film Chappie.

When asked whether the rumors he was starring in the film are true, Jackman said,

“I am doing a role in Neill’s new film, called Chappie, which we shoot in Johannesburg. I’m there for a couple of weeks at the beginning of next year.”

The 44-year-old actor is just coming out of promoting his latest film, the dark drama Prisoners, in which he stars as the distraught father of a kidnapped girl who takes matters into his own hands.

Blomkamp’s latest film was the sci-fi Elysium starring Matt Damon.

Chappie is the story of a robot voiced by Sharlto Copley, who gets stolen by two gangsters who plan to use him for their criminal purposes. South African rappers Ninja and Yolandi Visser will portray the thugs.

Hugh Jackman also talked about other projects he is involved with at the moment.

On The Greatest Showman On Earth, a musical directed by Michael Gracey based on P.T. Barnum’s story, Jackman, who plays the lead said,

“I thought it would stay in active development, if I’m honest, because new musicals are very difficult but just recently it’s taken a real turn and there’s some real momentum so watch this space.”

As to the western drama Unbound Captives, which was supposed to take off a couple of years ago, Jackman stated that it was another tough project to get off the ground.

Jackman also hinted at a possible Broadway run in a musical about magician/escape artist Harry Houdini, saying he would make a decision “in about a month.”

Hugh Jackman has been working non-stop with four films, and, even though his wife and kids have been supportive, he says, “It’s time for me to go home now.”