South African actor Sharlto Copley — who rose to fame in the role of Wikus van der Merwe in the Oscar-nominated film District 9 — is making a name for himself as a Hollywood writer and director.
The 36-year-old actor, who now lives in Los Angeles, is directing a film called Spoon.
The supernatural thriller, which he started writing four years ago with production partner Simon Hansen, stars Alias and Smallville star Rutger Hauer and British TV actor Darren Boyd.
The trailer hit the Internet last week.
In the film, Hauer’s character, Victor Spoon, contracts a disease that causes him to lose consciousness during moments of extreme stress. The illness leads him on a journey of self-discovery.
After Copley made his debut in District 9, directed by Neill Blomkamp, he was signed on to star alongside acting heavyweights Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Quinton Jackson in the forthcoming film adaptation of The A-Team Copley landed the role of the hapless Murdoch.
Last month, he was nominated for the MTV Movie Awards in the scared sh*tless category for his role in District 9.
