A friendship that kickstarted an actor's entire film career. An
onscreen politician with the approval of a real president. Here's what the
cast of "District 9" have been up to since the film's 2009 release.
Sharlto Copley made his feature-length acting debut as "District 9"'s protagonist,
Wikus van de Merwe. Working at Multinational United, or MNU, the military contractor
assigned to keeping the Prawns in check, Wikus is tasked with relocating the 1.8 million aliens
to another camp when he is exposed to alien fluid that slowly transforms him into a Prawn.
"MNU is trying to move the aliens for humanitarian reasons,
but the real focus, just as it has been right from the beginning is weapons."
When MNU tries to dissect Wikus so that they can use his alien DNA to access alien technology,
he escapes and becomes a fugitive of the law. With nowhere else to go, Wikus makes a deal to help
a Prawn named Christopher Johnson and his son, Little CJ, leave Earth in order to save himself.
"District 9" was actually Copley's feature length
debut. He was close friends with director Neil Blomkamp, who offered him the role.
The performance marked the beginning of a busy career for Copley. Since 2009,
he's starred in several other movies, such as 2010's "The A-Team," 2013's "Oldboy," and
2014's "Maleficent." He was also the lead on the PlayStation Network TV series "Powers,"
which premiered in 2015 and lasted for two seasons. Copley continued to work
with Blomkamp on feature films like 2013's "Elysium" and 2015's "Chappie," and short
films including 2017's "God: Serengeti" and 2018's "God: City" from Oats Studios.
Jason Cope may not be a household name, but the South African actor did play a major role
in "District 9." For starters, Cope did the motion capture work for Christopher
Johnson and all of the speaking aliens. Cope also played the human UKNR correspondent Gray Bradnam,
who is interviewed several times throughout the film.
Cope continued to score roles in other projects. He appeared in several films over the years such
as 2012's "Dredd" and 2013's "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," and had a recurring role
on the Starz TV series "Black Sails." Cope also continued to collaborate with
Blomkamp as he appeared in 2015's "Chappie" and three of the director's short films with
Oats Studios: "God: Serengeti," "God: City," and 2017's "Adam: The Mirror."
David James is another relatively unknown South African actor who played a major
role in "District 9." James portrayed one of the film's main antagonists, Koobus Venter,
a ruthless and sadistic MNU mercenary who accompanies Wikus during the eviction of
District 9 before attempting to capture him after he is infected. As seen throughout the film,
Koobus takes great pleasure in torturing and murdering Prawns
"You don't run away from a chopper. Where do you think you're going? You wanna piss me off?"
Since the film makes Koobus so easy to hate,
it's fairly cathartic to see the Prawns defeat Koobus at the end of the movie.
While some critics deemed James' "District 9" performance as deserving of an Oscar,
he mostly played minor roles after its release. James appeared in several
British TV shows such as "Wild at Heart," and "Kidnap and Ransom."
South African actress and model Vanessa Haywood played Wikus' wife Tania in "District 9." At the
beginning of the film, it becomes very clear that Tania loves Wikus dearly,
and is concerned for him when he is taken to the hospital. After Wikus becomes a fugitive, however,
MNU spreads lies that he had sexual relations with an alien, which leads Tania to turn on him.
"I'm gonna fix my arm and I'm gonna — I'm gonna see you again,
and I'm gonna kiss you. And I'm gonna — and I'm gonna hold you again."
"I don't want you to hold me again."
Near the end of the film, it begins to seem that Tania's feelings about her husband have
changed again. She seems forlorn without Wikus, and keeps a metal flower that she
believes he made. This theory is seemingly confirmed by the last shot of the film,
which features a Prawn — presumably Wikus, now fully transformed — crafting another metal flower.
Although Haywood hasn't acted in many projects since then, she has still been heavily involved
in the worldwide entertainment industry. In 2011, Haywood competed in the "Survivor South Africa"
episode "Celebs vs Plebs," which she says was a phenomenal, life-changing experience for her.
Haywood is also a respected endurance athlete who is not only married to South African trail
runner Ryan Sandes but has also competed in several races such as the ABSA Cape Epic,
the Leadville 100, and the Otter Trail Race.
South African actor Mandla Gaduka played Fundiswa Mhlanga in "District 9." Fundiswa
is Wikus' assistant and trainee during the eviction. In the end,
Fundiswa awaits trial for exposing information about MNU's illegal experimentation on Prawns.
Although Gaduka's role in "District 9" was small, it had a major impact on the film's climax.
Since the release of "District 9," Gaduka found plenty of success in South African
television. He won two South African Film and Television Awards, or SAFTAs, for his work on
the comedy "Gauteng Maboneng " and another one for his work on the soap opera "Ashes to Ashes."
Gaduka continued to pop up in several movies after "District 9." He appeared in 2011's
"Machine Gun Preacher." In 2015, he portrayed an unnamed Johannesburg resident in "Avengers:
Age of Ultron." More recently, he appeared in 2019's "Losing Lerato."
Malawian actor Eugene Khumbanyiwa played Obesandjo, the secondary antagonist of
"District 9." This ominous-looking character is in charge of the Nigerian gang in District 9,
which sells aliens cat food in exchange for their weapons. Obesandjo believes that he can
use alien weaponry if he eats alien flesh. During the film's climax, one of Obesandjo's
men tries to cut off Wikus' mutated arm when Little CJ remotely activates an exoskeleton
inside the Nigerian gang's compound, which kills all the gangsters and blows up Obesandjo's head.
After "District 9," Khumbanyiwa starred in many television projects from around
the world. He played Pastor Peter in the 2016 British TV movie, "Damilola,
Our Loved Boy." The film, which also starred "Lovecraft Country" actress Wunmi Mosaku,
won two British Academy of Film and Television Awards.
Khumbanyiwa also appeared in the critically acclaimed Hulu miniseries "The Looming Tower"
as Trenton Okuku, a Kenyan security guard at the American Embassy in Nairobi who
survived the Embassy bombing and became a crucial witness.
Additionally, Khumbanyiwa continued to work with Blomkamp after "District 9,"
playing another gangster in the 2015 feature "Chappie." He also appeared
in Blomkamp's 2017 short film "Rakka" which, alongside Chappie, starred Sigourney Weaver.
Kenneth Nkosi played Thomas, a good friend of Wikus, in "District 9." Thomas is an MNU
security guard who assists Wikus in the alien eviction, serving as Wikus personal security
detail. Although Nkosi played a minor role in "District 9," he was already a name in
South African film and likely appeared in the movie to attract South African moviegoers.
Fortunately, Nkosi continued to pop up in movies, TV shows, and live broadcasts. Some
examples of the former include 2011's "Skeem" and 2015's "Ayanda," both of which have either been
nominated for or won SAFTAs. More recently, he also starred in the 2018 family comedy
"Frank & Fearless". He also hosted the SABC2 World Cup show in 2010 as well as several
South African reality shows such as "Class Act," "Wang Verstana ," and "Kitchen Queens."
Louis Minnaar played Piet Smit, one of the main antagonists in "District 9." Piet is the managing
director of MNU who sends his bumbling son-in-law, Wikus, to evict aliens from District 9. While he
couldn't have predicted what was going to happen to Wikus, he was probably hoping for the worst.
"I had to put aside the fact that my daughter was married to Wikus.
That didn't factor in my decision to promote him."
After Wikus is infected, Piet decides to vivisect him for research and stares
emotionlessly at his son-in-law as he begs for his life. After Wikus becomes a fugitive,
Piet lies to his daughter Tania that Wikus had sexual relations with a Prawn to turn
her against him. Although his status at the end of the movie is unknown, Piet was likely
implicated in the data leak of MNU's illegal alien experimentation, which he was a large part of.
After "District 9," Minnaar popped up in more movies from around the world. Some of
his South African filmography includes 2012's "Semi-Soet," 2017's "Vuil Wasgoed," and 2019's
"The Harvesters." Minnaar also appeared in Clint Eastwood's 2009 Nelson Mandela biopic, "Invictus."
American actor William Allen Young played Dirk Michaels, the CEO of MNU, in "District 9."
Although Young is one of the more established actors in the film's cast, his character only
appears in two scenes: An interview where he says that the aliens are not going anywhere,
and a newscast where he says the explosion at the MNU Headquarters is a terrorist attack.
"Well there was a terrorist attack I can assure you that we've dealt with it. Everything is fine."
After "District 9," Young made guest appearances on dozens of TV shows as well as acting in some
movies. "Castle," "Madame Secretary," and "This is Us" are just a few of the shows
that Young popped up in. The only movies that Young has acted in since "District 9" are TV
movies like 2011's "Rock the House," 2014's "The Cookie Mobster," and 2019's "Christmas Hotel."
Young is also a well-respected humanitarian. He has received several distinguished awards
including the NAACP Social Achievement Award, the President's Icon Award,
and the Man of the Year Award from the National Organization of Women at Work. Additionally,
President Bill Clinton named Young an Ambassador of Goodwill, which means that he advocates
for a specific cause or global issue on the basis of his notability as a public figure.
South African actor Robert Hobbs played a minor character in "District 9" named Pienaar,
an MNU mercenary under the command of Koobus Venter. He is seen in the firefight with
Nigerians near the end of the film, and is ordered to beat up Christopher to make
him talk about his plan with Wikus. After Pienaar is ordered to execute Christopher,
the audience sees the slightest trace of a smile appear on his face. He almost
pulls the trigger before Wikus uses the Exosuit's gun to dismember him.
Since "District 9," Hobbs has appeared in several movies and TV shows, such as "Mandela: Long Walk
to Freedom," "Black Sails," and "Warrior." Hobbs also continued to collaborate with Blomkamp,
acting in "Chappie" in 2015, and two of his short films, "Rakka" and "Firebase" in 2017.