Media Rights Capital (MRC) has come on board for the next film by District 9 writer/director Neill Blomkamp.

The untitled sci-fi project will begin production by the middle of next year. Bill Block will produce.

MRC is giving Blomkamp creative freedom and a production commitment that isn’t contingent on domestic distribution. The director and Block will get an ownership stake in the finished product.

“MRC is letting me make the film I want to make, and that is by far the most important thing here,” Blomkamp told Daily Variety. “The film will hopefully be commercial, but it is very much a singular film, (one) that comes directly from me.”

Blomkamp will immediately start writing and preparing the visual effects. The film will be modest by sci-fi standards, but it will certainly cost more than “District 9,” which was budgeted under $30 million and grossed more than $184 million worldwide.

Blomkamp will immediately start writing and preparing the visual effects