Sony Officially Reboots Starship Troopers After Helldivers Movie Announcement

Sony is set to bring a fresh take on the classic military sci-fi novel "Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein with a new movie reboot. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety, acclaimed director Neill Blomkamp, known for his work on "District 9," "Elysium," and "Chappie," has been tapped to write and direct this new adaptation. This project will be produced under Sony's Columbia Pictures and will not be connected to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic sci-fi satire of the same name.

Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers satirized the novel upon which it is based. Photo by TriStar Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images.

The announcement of Blomkamp's involvement with this new "Starship Troopers" project raises eyebrows, especially considering Sony's recent announcement of a live-action adaptation of the popular PlayStation Studios game "Helldivers." "Helldivers," developed by Arrowhead, draws significant inspiration from Verhoeven’s "Starship Troopers," featuring a similar theme of soldiers fighting alien bugs while upholding a satirical fascist regime known as Super Earth.

With both projects in development, Sony may find itself navigating the release of two films that, while different in their approach, share thematic roots. Blomkamp’s adaptation aims to return to the original tone and themes of Heinlein's novel, which differs significantly from Verhoeven's satirical take. The novel is often interpreted as promoting ideals that Verhoeven’s film critiques.

As of now, neither the new "Starship Troopers" nor the "Helldivers" movie has a confirmed release date, suggesting that fans might have to wait a while before seeing these projects come to fruition. Blomkamp's most recent directorial effort was "Gran Turismo," another Sony production based on the iconic PlayStation driving simulation series.