‘Starship Troopers’ Reboot in the Works at Sony, Neill Blomkamp Attached to Direct New Adaptation of Sci-Fi Novel

Neill Blomkamp is doing his part. The “District 9” and “Chappie” filmmaker is attached to write and direct a new film adaptation of “Starship Troopers,” the 1959 sci-fi novel by Robert A. Heinlein that was last memorably brought to theaters in 1997 by director Paul Verhoeven. The new project comes from Sony‘s Columbia Pictures.

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While exact plot details remain closely guarded, the new “Starship Troopers” is said to draw inspiration from Heinlein’s original military story, rather than pulling from the fascist send-up that characterized Verhoeven’s satirical adaptation. Along with writing and directing, Blomkamp is producing with his longtime collaborator Terri Tatchell.

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The project marks a reunion for the director and the studio. Sony last recruited Blomkamp for “Gran Turismo,” a film adaptation of the racing video game franchise that originated in the company’s PlayStation division. Released in August 2023, the film grossed $120 million in worldwide theatrical sales against a $60 million production budget.

Blomkamp’s defining feature remains his 2009 debut, “District 9,” an immigration parable set among a colony of aliens in South Africa. That film earned four Oscar nominations, including picture and adapted screenplay for Blomkamp and Tatchell. Blomkamp went on to forge his brand in realistic, socially minded sci-fi with two follow-ups: the Matt Damon action spectacle “Elysium” and the tale of a Die Antwoord-raised swaggy robot “Chappie.”

The original “Starship Troopers” adaptation was a significant investment by Sony’s TriStar Pictures in 1997, sporting a production budget higher than $100 million, impressive miniatures, cutting-edge effects work and a then-rising cast that included names like Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards and Neil Patrick Harris. The film was widely seen as a theatrical disappointment, grossing just $121 million worldwide, but it has gained reputation as a cult film for its hyper-violent parody of a fascist society.

Home media sales were strong enough to spawn two lower budget, direct-to-video sequels: “Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation” in 2004, and “Starship Troopers 3: Marauder” in 2008. A pair of animated follow-ups came after: “Starship Troopers: Invasion” in 2012 and “Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars” in 2017. Reports of plans for a new adaptation of Heinlein’s novel emerged over a decade ago, but the attachment of Blomkamp marks a significant development.

The Hollywood Reporter was first to report on the reboot.