Summary
- Chappie 2 is highly unlikely to happen due to the box office underperformance of the first movie, which failed to turn a profit.
- Director Neill Blomkamp has ruled out a sequel to Chappie, acknowledging the movie's failure and its impact on his career.
- The inclusion of controversial rap duo Die Antwoord in the original Chappie is another reason why a sequel is unlikely, as their alleged abusive behavior has tarnished their reputation and would deter any major Hollywood studio from working with them.
While fans might be clamoring for more of the self-aware robot, there's a reason why Chappie 2 will never happen. Neill Blomkamp made a huge impression with his wildly ambitious 2009 debut District 9 which managed to combine gory action and fantastic effects while examining topics like xenophobia and racism through a sci-fi lens. The movie also introduced audiences to the mad genius of leading man Sharlto Copley. Blomkamp and Copley reteamed for the sci-fi drama called Chappie, which follows a police robot who becomes sentient after being stolen by criminals. Copley played the title character while Hugh Jackman and Sigourney Weaver featured in key supporting roles.
Chappie played like an R-rated cross between RoboCop and Short Circuit and while the movie hardly lacked ambition, it was greeted with a mostly negative reception. Its failure seemed to pause Blomkamp's directorial career for a time with Demomic as his only movie since, although he is signed on for the video game movie adaptation of Gran Turismo. Even with its poor initial response, Chappie has gained a cult following since its release. However, while some fans are eager to see what the titular robot Chappie does next, Chappie 2 definitely isn't happening.
Chappie Was A Box-Office Disappointment
A key reason Chappie 2 is almost guaranteed never to happen comes from the box office. While bad reviews don't necessarily spell doom for potential sequels, in the case of Chappie 2, the underperformance of the first movie definitely does. Chappie grossed just over $100 million worldwide on an estimated budget of $49 million (via Box Office Mojo). Factoring in marketing and other costs it's unlikely the movie turned a profit. Director Neill Blomkamp mapped out Chappie as a trilogy, but while the movie features something of an unexplained cliffhanger ending, where Chappie brings back both his creator Deon and "Mommy" Yolandi as robots, there's been no sign of the studio pushing for a Chappie 2.
Neill Blomkamp Has Ruled Out Chappie 2
Sometimes when a studio backs out of a sequel, directors shop the rights elsewhere if they're able — but this hasn't happened for Chappie 2. Neill Blomkamp has repeatedly stated his pride in the final movie, and how painful its failure was to him on a personal level. While it's clear he loves the character, he's also a realist and has confirmed a sequel won't happen due to the tepid box office of the original. Blomkamp even joked that Chappie cost him the Alien 5 job he lined up.
Die Antwoord Make A Chappie Sequel Impossible
One unfortunate aspect of the original movie's legacy that is also sure to stop Chappie 2 in its tracks is the inclusion of the controversial South African rap duo Die Antwoord. Despite some other big names in the cast, including Sigourney Weaver's return to sci-fi, the two musicians, Ninja and Yo-Landi Visser, were two of the leads in Chappie. Playing two criminals that welcome Chappie into their gang, Die Antwoord came with considerable baggage back when the movie was released. However, their various allegations and controversies have only gotten worse since then.
Amid reports of various altercations and inappropriate behavior leveled against them by other artists they have worked with, Die Antwoord has been subject to some truly disturbing claims. The reported allegations (via News24) come from a young man who was adopted as a foster child by the duo claiming he suffered physical and sexual abuse at the hands of them both. As the allegations are still being worked out, it is highly unlikely any major Hollywood studio is going to be interested in greenlighting a movie that involved them in any way. In fact, it is hard to imagine Blomkamp or anyone else associated with the first movie being eager to work with Die Antwoord again in Chappie 2.
What Has Neill Blomkamp Been Up To Since Chappie?
Along with the seemingly dead Chappie sequel, the failure of the original movie did certainly hurt Neill Blomkamp's career and may have even contributed to him losing some bigger projects. However, the director bounced back from the heartache of the film's failure by opening Oats Studios and making a bunch of cool short films like Rakka and Zygote. This seemed to give him a creative outlet for his unique ideas without the pressures of a big Hollywood production.
Though his return to feature films in 2021 resulted in the little-seen Demonic, Blomkamp seems ready for a comeback with the upcoming Gran Turismo. The movie is based on an incredible true story and follows a competition based on the popular video game that gives an underdog racer a chance in the world of elite sports. The movie stars Orlando Bloom and David Harbour and looks to be a fitting return for Blomkamp to the world of big-budget movie making even if it isn't Chappie 2.