Sony is reportedly developing a new reboot of the Starship Troopers franchise, with Neill Blomkamp, known for directing films like District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, set to write and direct. This information comes from reputable sources such as The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety.
This upcoming project is a fresh take on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, Starship Troopers, and is being produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures. It is important to note that this film is not a sequel or related to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic sci-fi satire, which also adapted Heinlein's novel but with a very different tone.
The announcement of Blomkamp's involvement in this new Starship Troopers project is intriguing, especially considering Sony's recent reveal of a live-action adaptation of the PlayStation Studios game Helldivers. Helldivers, developed by Arrowhead, draws significant inspiration from Verhoeven's Starship Troopers, featuring soldiers fighting for a satirical fascist regime called Super Earth against alien bugs and other foes, all while promoting the concepts of Liberty and Managed Democracy.
With both the new Starship Troopers and Helldivers movies in development, Sony faces the challenge of managing two projects that could potentially compete with each other. However, The Hollywood Reporter clarifies that Blomkamp's version will be a direct adaptation of Heinlein's novel, which differs significantly in tone from Verhoeven's satirical take. Heinlein's book is often interpreted as promoting the very ideals that Verhoeven's film mocks.
As of now, neither the new Starship Troopers nor the Helldivers movie has a confirmed release date, suggesting that fans may have to wait a while before seeing either project come to fruition. Blomkamp's most recent directorial effort was Sony's Gran Turismo, an adaptation of the popular PlayStation driving simulation series.
