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 helm the project. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety, Blomkamp will both write and direct this fresh adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel.
This upcoming film will not be a continuation or related to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic Starship Troopers, which famously satirized Heinlein's original work. Instead, Blomkamp's project is a new take on the source material, produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures.
The news comes as a surprise, especially since Sony recently announced a live-action adaptation of the popular PlayStation Studios game Helldivers, which draws significant inspiration from Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers. Helldivers features soldiers fighting to defend a satirical fascist regime dubbed "Super Earth" against alien bugs and other threats, echoing themes from Verhoeven's film.
With both Starship Troopers and Helldivers in development, Sony faces the challenge of managing two projects that could potentially compete against each other. However, The Hollywood Reporter clarifies that Blomkamp's version aims to return to the tone and themes of Heinlein's novel, which contrasts sharply with Verhoeven's satirical approach.
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 to see these projects come to fruition. Blomkamp's most recent directorial effort was Sony's Gran Turismo, an adaptation of the renowned PlayStation driving simulation game series.