A couple of weeks ago, we reported the news that Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 Starship Troopers was set for a remake. The reports said it would definitely be a remake of the movie, rather than something closer to the source material.
It looks like those reports were wrong. The Hollywood Reporter has more details, and their report says that a director is set. District 9 and Chappie filmmaker Neill Blomkamp has come on board to write and direct the new Starship Troopers film at Sony. He recently did a solid job for Sony with Gran Turismo.
The 1959 novel by Robert A. Heinlein is regarded as a sci-fi classic but has also attracted commentary by some for having a “fascistic tone” because it links the idea of military service to citizenship and implies that rights are only fully available to those who serve.
The book also spent a lot of time explaining the technology behind the power suits the troopers wore that enabled them to fight off-world, the combat techniques, and the insertion into battle from orbit via pods. It follows Johnny Rico from his enlistment in an interstellar war between Earth and bug-like aliens, through his rise up the ranks.
When noted Dutch lunatic Paul Verhoeven, who lived some early years in Nazi occupied Holland, got hold of the material he gave it the RoboCop treatment and gave it heavily satirical overtones.
The reports say that this version will follow Heinlein’s source material more closely.
Blomkamp will also produce with his wife and co-writing partner, Terri Tatchell.