Sony is set to reboot the iconic sci-fi franchise with a new Starship Troopers movie, directed by Neill Blomkamp, known for films like District 9, Elysium, and Chappie. Blomkamp will both write and direct this new adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, with confirmation from Deadline and Variety.
This upcoming project from Sony's Columbia Pictures is a fresh take on Heinlein’s original work and is not connected to Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 cult classic, which famously satirized the source material.
Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers satirized the novel upon which it is based. Photo by TriStar Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images.
Interestingly, Sony is also developing a live-action movie based on the popular PlayStation Studios game, Helldivers, which draws heavy inspiration from Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. In Helldivers, players control expendable soldiers fighting to defend a satirical fascist regime, dubbed Super Earth, against alien bugs and other threats, all while promoting the ideals of Liberty and Managed Democracy.
The simultaneous development of both Starship Troopers and Helldivers by Sony introduces an intriguing dynamic, especially since Blomkamp's version aims to return to the original tone of Heinlein's novel, which starkly contrasts with the satirical approach of Verhoeven's film. Many interpret Heinlein's book as endorsing the very ideals that Verhoeven's movie mocks.
As of now, neither the new Starship Troopers nor the Helldivers movie has a set release date, leaving fans to anticipate further updates. Blomkamp's most recent directorial effort was Sony's Gran Turismo, an adaptation of the renowned PlayStation driving simulation series.
