COOL STUFF
Meet Ninja & Yo-Landi of Die Antwoord from the 'Chappie' Trailer
by Alex Billington
November 5, 2014
"We're gunna make you cool, and tough!" Yesterday Sony debuted the first trailer for the new movie from Neill Blomkamp, titled Chappie, which tells the story of a young robot being brought into a brutal world. Fans of this music group may have already spotted them, but for everyone else, it's time to introduce you to Ninja and Yo-Landi Vi$$er from the South African group Die Antwoord. We've known they were in the cast since they were included in the early production announcements last year, but it's good to see them in the trailer and it seems they are main characters with a key role in the plot. View even more photos below.
Die Antwoord, which translates to "The Answer" in English, is a popular South African rap group formed in Cape Town in 2008. Neill Blomkamp was born in South Africa and has shot most of his three films there, including Chappie, so it makes sense he would reach into the local community (the same way he did casting Sharlto Copley in District 9). So Ninja and Yo-Landi were cast in the movie, along with Dev Patel, Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver and Sharlto Copley (as the voice of Chappie), and are making their acting debut in a Hollywood movie. Timed with the release of the trailer their new music video for "Ugly Boy" launched.
Check out the music video above, along with the photo of Ninja (L) and Yo-Landi (R) from the trailer. In Chappie, Dev Patel programs a humanoid robot to have life-like AI features, but the robot ends up on the streets. As far as we know, he's eventually "adopted" by Ninja and Yo-Landi who raise him like their own child, teaching him how to be tough and cool, and how to survive on the streets. Eventually you can see Chappie wearing gold chains and looking gangsta while rolling around town. But, of course, when the bad guys want their robot back these two get mixed up in the mayhem. I love the story setup, and I'm curious to see how it plays out in Blomkamp's world. Here's a few shots from the trailer of Ninja, Yo-Landi & Chappie:
For more on Die Antwoord, check out their official website or grab their latest album "Donker Mag". We expect them to be a part of the marketing as this gets closer to release, but for now I'm glad they're showing up in the trailer this much. Maybe they have a future in film? For more on Chappie follow @SonyPictures.
Every child comes into the world full of promise, and none more so than Chappie: he is gifted, special, a prodigy. Like any child, Chappie will come under the influence of his surroundings – some good, some bad – and he will rely on his heart and soul to find his way in the world and become his own man. But there's one thing that makes Chappie different from anyone else: he is a robot. Chappie is the third film written and directed by South African sci-fi auteur Neill Blomkamp, following up his films Elysium and District 9 previously. The script was co-written by Terri Tatchell, based on Blomkamp's short Tetra Vaal. Filming took place down in South Africa last year, with a cast including rappers Die Antwoord and Hugh Jackman. Sony Pictures has Blomkamp's Chappie set for release starting on March 6th, 2015 next year. We're in.
Reader Feedback - 32 Comments
1
You have to appreciate Blomkamp's dedication to his South Africa, it really is a joy to see and a remarkable feat in today's world. Chappie looks amazing. Coincidentally, I just learned about this band today, they're weird as hell and certainly not my type, but I like the music/video for Ugly Boy, it's definitely unique
Ricardo_PT on Nov 5, 2014
2
DIG IT. I would not listen to this on the daily, but it seems fine for every once and awhile when the moment strikes. Good artists.
DAVIDPD on Nov 5, 2014
3
I've been watching Die Antwoord videos for years now, its so cool to see them pop up on here like this. I had heard about them being in it, and it made sense since they are from South Africa and all that blah blah blah, but to have such big roles... they must have blown him away with their acting or something, makes me so much more pumped to see this.
Sky on Nov 5, 2014
4
There amazing, the imagery is so Mathew Barney meets Alejandro Jodorowsky .... videos are amazing - musically i prefer Fever Ray ... but music is still fun and there expression is so ahead of its time in music.
shane willett on Nov 6, 2014
5
they should be in every ciberpunk movie
Andres Bastias on Jan 11, 2015
7
8
Yo-Landi signed her name with a dash when i got her autograph at Coachella so I think she might not be aware of your almighty wisdome. You should really let her know she has been singing her name wrong all these years!
ProperModulation on Nov 6, 2014
9
YoLandi is her name - serious there's a debate over this... its Yo-Landi and Ninja for like the last 7-8 years they been performing, but if there's a dash in her name - maybe she's re-branding herself.... hahaha
shane willett on Nov 6, 2014
10
Also I think it's kind of a big oversight that you didn't mention that Ninja and Yolandi are apparently playing themselves in the film. Their last album, TENSION has it's logo scrawled on the side of Chappie's head and IMDB has them listed as playing Ninja and Yolandi...
Kento on Nov 5, 2014
11
12
Story line in trailer looks like a Tamil Movie "Endhiran". Endhiran : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UZtT5GvwwE
internetwalker on Nov 6, 2014
13
What a pair of idiots.
Mr Chatterbox on Nov 6, 2014
14
While you gain that status entirely on your own.
ProperModulation on Nov 6, 2014
15
I'm allowed my own opinion, and it doesn't have to conform to yours.
Mr Chatterbox on Nov 6, 2014
16
Idiots having fun and about to be known even more.. and in one of the best looking movies to date! Chappie is going to be amazing!
shane willett on Nov 6, 2014
17
they're making it, umshimi wam in their early days its emotive, they are wishing to become famous, and they hope God to forgive them, they are sure that God is a cool guy
Andres Bastias on Jan 11, 2015
18
A good introduction is their music and videos, but also the short film "Umshini Wam" directed by Harmony Korine. Though, still playing the Ninja and Yolandi characters in the short, I think the characters will be directed to be more empathetic in "Chappie". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMVNjMF1Suo
emceegreg on Nov 6, 2014
19
It might be that I am not a fan of rap but it seems to me like these folks are famous because of their image, shock value, originality and not because of their music. So good on them but I dont think they are very good.
Jon Odishaw on Nov 6, 2014
20
I'm a huge rap fan, and you're not wrong.
Nielsen700 on Nov 6, 2014
21
correct...they're unbelievably terrible haha
ColtNoir on Nov 6, 2014
23
Love the Flea, Jack Black and Marilyn Manson cameos.. Die Antword forevera!
shane willett on Nov 6, 2014
24
weren't their 15 minutes up ages ago?
mazi on Nov 6, 2014
25
Considering they just toured in America and have a new album... I would say no.
rolyjimenez on Nov 7, 2014
26
In the recent interview Neill regretted working with them and will never do it again. Huge problems on the set and inexcusable requests of outrage.
Randall Miller on Nov 7, 2014
27
that part of the marketing, they are kind people
Andres Bastias on Jan 11, 2015
28
Hell yeah Die Antwoord in a movie. I wouldn't be surprised if they were hard to work with, though.
Ryan Knight on Nov 24, 2014
29
they are like God, they are cool guys of course they loved to be in a film
Guest on Jan 11, 2015
30
they both are playing characters, Ninja has said that he wears an outfit, like superman, just only that he never take off of it. those characters are being playing to annoy and being annoying throgh their art its their mission. If you dont like Die Antwoord, you LIKE Die Antwoord they're cool guys, like God
Andres Bastias on Jan 11, 2015
31
ZEF. Does the airhorn on my diesel truck qualify as ZEF?
Capt. Joe on Jan 9, 2015
32
That bitch creeps me out.
Citizen on Mar 1, 2015
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