LOS ANGELES, Nov 5 — The “District 9” and “Elysium” director returns with robot story “Chappie,” about a humanoid robot learning to live in a conflicted world.

A gifted learner with huge potential, Chappie is a robotic creation whose existence is at first welcomed but soon becomes a point of division among human society.

“Anything you want to do in your life, you can do,” explains co-creator Deon. “Write poetry, have original ideas,” he encourages the sentient AI.

At first that means learning how to talk, pour milk, imitate TV characters and even paint.

But Chappie’s existence is not without opponents. His unpredictability coupled with great power raises hackles and Chappie finds himself both celebrated and rejected, the source of great learning and a militarized crackdown.

“Chappie” is the third feature film from South African director Neill Blomkamp, whose 2009 debut “District 9” was a double nominee at the following year’s Academy Awards.

Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Hugh Jackman, Sigourney Weaver, Sharlto Copley and Jose Pablo Cantillo (both “District 9”) star alongside South African musicians Yolandi Visser and Watkin Jones of the band Die Antwoord.

“Chappie” is due for release the week of March 5, 2015, in multiple territories including the USA, France, Belgium, the UK, the Netherlands, Malaysia and Singapore. Australia is among those to see a release from the following week onwards. — AFP-Relaxnews