We’ve got some cool new viral posters for District 9, the sci-fi-meets-reality-tv film about aliens living in a refugee camp in Johannesburg, South Africa. If you’ve seen the District 9 teaser trailer, then you’re already familiar with the film’s documentary-style format (a la Cloverfield) mixed with crazy sci-fi F/X. The new viral posters play up on the “real world” angle of the film quite nicely.
District 9 is being produced by Peter Jackson (Lord of The Rings) and directed by Neill Blomkamp, who up until now has been known for almost directing the Halo movie. District 9 is based on Blomkamp’s short film “Alive in Joberg”, which Screen Rant is proud to present for your viewing pleasure.
Check out the viral posters for District 9 (click any thumbnail for a larger image or two times for hi-res):
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I was one of those viewers who was totally duped by the whole refugee/illegal immigrant allusion in the first thirty seconds of the District 9 trailer, before they dropped the bomb on you that the film is about actual aliens. I like how these viral posters continue in that same vein; I know each of these posters has a real-world counterpart, but I feel like I never really looked at them, or considered their message, until somebody went and stuck an alien on them. Fantastic marketing ploy.
There are many more new viral posters for District 9, which you can view by going here.
As promised (and so you can get a feel for where all this alien-as-refugees stuff is coming from), here’s “Alive in Joberg”, the short film by Neill Blomkamp that inspired District 9:
Since the announcement of District 9, many sci-fi fans have been whispering that this film has “sleeper hit” written all over it. I’d be surprised if many people outside of sci-fi circles have it on their radar yet, however, with some continued smart-marketing (and efforts of sites like Screen Rant to spread the good word), that all could change soon.
District 9 is slated for release on August 14, 2009. Let us know what you think about the viral posters and short film.
Sources: Imp Awards via First Showing & Spy Films via You Tube
