Rumour: Starship Troopers gets a remake
"Helldivers 2" is also being made into a film
It's time to kill some bugs again! Film fans are unlikely to have missed Paul Verhoeven's bitterly evil science fiction film "Starship Troopers". Now the first rumors suggest that Sony is planning a remake of the classic.
It is not yet known whether this will be a movie or a series. According to ScreenGeek, however, Sony seems to have recognized the potential of the "Starship Troopers" universe and is apparently planning a major return of the series. The popularity of the extremely successful video game "Helldivers 2" is also likely to have contributed to this – after all, it was practically a playable version of "Starship Troopers". The game is also set to be made into a movie.
The original film by Paul Verhoeven is based on the novel by Robert A. Heinlein and tells the story of a futuristic military organization, the United Citizen Federation, which finds itself in an interstellar war with the Arachnids.
It will also be particularly exciting to see what direction the new film or series will take in terms of content. While the original film was a political satire, a modern "Starship Troopers" could tackle new social issues or focus more on the serious aspects of a futuristic war drama. Themes such as fascism and blind obedience could also be addressed. Whether a potential remake can keep up with the original remains to be seen. After all, the remakes of "RoboCop" and "Total Recall" were not particularly well received by fans.
However, it should be emphasized that this is a rumour. Confirmation from Sony is still pending. But we'll keep an eye on the project!
Starship Troopers: All films in the series at a glance
The "Starship Troopers" film series began in 1997 with Paul Verhoeven's cult film and developed into an independent franchise with several sequels, including live-action and animated films. The series is loosely based on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel and deals with themes such as militarism, propaganda and the war against alien insects known as bugs.
Starship Troopers (1997)
The first and best-known film was directed by Paul Verhoeven. It tells the story of Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), who volunteers to join the Mobile Infantry to fight the enemy bugs. The film combines spectacular action with a satirical critique of militarism and propaganda. Despite mixed reviews on release, the film has achieved cult status over the years.
Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation (2004)
The first sequel was produced directly for the home movie market. It was directed by Phil Tippett, who is known for his work on special effects. Unlike the first film, Hero of the Federation is a rather small, almost claustrophobic horror movie that focuses on a small group of soldiers who are attacked by bugs in an isolated base. The movie received mostly negative reviews as it lacked the budget and satirical depth of the original.
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder (2008)
Casper Van Dien returned as Johnny Rico, and Edward Neumeier, the screenwriter of the first film, took over as director. Marauder brought back some of the political and satirical elements of the original and introduced the eponymous Marauder battlesuits, reminiscent of Heinlein's novel. The film was better received than its predecessor, but was unable to match the success of the original.
Starship Troopers: Invasion (2012)
With Invasion, the series was continued in animated form for the first time. The CGI film directed by Shinji Aramaki focuses on a dark, action-packed production and follows an elite unit investigating a missing space station. Visually impressive, but not very innovative in terms of narrative, the film provoked mixed reactions.
Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars (2017)
The second animated film, again directed by Shinji Aramaki, brought back Casper Van Dien as the voice of Johnny Rico. The plot revolves around an attack by bugs on Mars and Rico's attempts to fend off the invasion. The film focuses more on character development than its predecessor, but was similarly mixed in its reception.
Conclusion
The Starship Troopers series has evolved from a subversive sci-fi blockbuster to a franchise of varying quality. While the first film is still considered a cult classic, the sequels have mostly failed to match its success. Nevertheless, the series has a special place in the science fiction genre thanks to its mixture of action, satire and social criticism.