Sony Officially Reboots Starship Troopers After Helldivers Movie Announcement

Sony is set to reboot the iconic Starship Troopers franchise with a new film adaptation, according to multiple Hollywood sources. The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed that acclaimed director Neill Blomkamp, known for his work on films like District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, will helm this project. He will both write and direct the upcoming movie, which is a fresh take on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel.

This new endeavor from Sony's Columbia Pictures is distinct from Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic, which offered a satirical interpretation of Heinlein's work. Blomkamp’s film aims to return to the original source material, promising a different tone and perspective from Verhoeven's version.

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's decision to pursue this project comes on the heels of their announcement of a live-action adaptation of the PlayStation game Helldivers, developed by Arrowhead. Helldivers, inspired by Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers, features soldiers fighting for a satirical fascist regime called Super Earth against alien bugs and other foes, all while championing the concepts of Liberty and Managed Democracy.

With both the new Starship Troopers and Helldivers films in development, Sony faces the unique challenge of managing two projects that could potentially overlap in theme and audience. However, The Hollywood Reporter clarifies that Blomkamp's version will not be a remake of Verhoeven’s film but rather a direct adaptation of Heinlein's novel, which is known for its contrasting tone and themes compared to the 1997 movie.

As of now, neither project has a confirmed release date, suggesting that fans may need to wait a while before seeing either film come to life. Blomkamp’s most recent directorial effort was Sony's Gran Turismo, an adaptation of the popular PlayStation driving simulation series.