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 Starship Troopers film is a fresh adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, and it is not connected to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic, which satirized the original book. The project is being handled by Sony's Columbia Pictures.
The announcement of Blomkamp's involvement in this new Starship Troopers project is intriguing, especially since Sony recently revealed plans for a live-action adaptation of the popular PlayStation 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 focus on a more faithful adaptation of Heinlein's novel, which contrasts sharply in tone with Verhoeven's satirical take.
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 work was the Sony-produced Gran Turismo, based on the popular PlayStation driving simulation series.
