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 multiple sources, including The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety.
This upcoming Starship Troopers film is a fresh adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, distinct from Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic satire of the same name. It is being produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures.
The choice of Blomkamp for this project raises some eyebrows, especially since Sony recently announced 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 enemies, all while promoting ideals of Liberty and Managed Democracy.
With both the new Starship Troopers and Helldivers movies in development, Sony may find itself in a unique position where these two projects could compete against each other. However, The Hollywood Reporter clarifies that Blomkamp’s film will be a direct adaptation of Heinlein's novel, which has a markedly different tone from Verhoeven's satirical take. Heinlein's original work is often interpreted as endorsing the very ideals that Verhoeven's film mocks.
Currently, neither the new Starship Troopers nor the Helldivers movie has a set release date, suggesting fans might have to wait a while before seeing either project come to fruition. Blomkamp’s most recent directorial effort was Sony’s Gran Turismo, based on the popular PlayStation driving simulation series.
