Sony is reportedly developing a new reboot of the Starship Troopers franchise, with acclaimed director Neill Blomkamp, known for films like District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, set to write and direct. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety, this project will be a fresh adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, and is being produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures.
This new film will not be a sequel or related to Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 cult classic sci-fi satire, Starship Troopers. Instead, Blomkamp aims to bring a new interpretation of Heinlein’s original work to the screen. This decision might seem surprising, especially since Sony recently announced a live-action adaptation of the PlayStation game Helldivers, which draws heavy inspiration from Verhoeven's Starship Troopers. Helldivers features soldiers fighting for a satirical fascist regime against alien bugs, echoing themes from Verhoeven's film.
Sony now finds itself in a unique position with two projects that could potentially overlap in theme and audience. However, Blomkamp’s Starship Troopers is expected to focus more closely on the source material, which differs significantly in tone from Verhoeven's satirical take. Heinlein's novel is often interpreted as promoting the very ideals that Verhoeven’s film mocked.
Currently, neither the new Starship Troopers nor the Helldivers movie has a confirmed release date. Fans of Blomkamp's work may recall his most recent project, Sony's Gran Turismo, an adaptation of the popular PlayStation driving simulation game. As both projects progress, it will be interesting to see how Sony navigates these similar yet distinct cinematic endeavors.
