Neill Blomkamp to Direct New “Starship Troopers” Film for Columbia Pictures: A Return to Original Material

by Annika March 16, 2025

Columbia Pictures is planning a new Starship Troopers film, with District 9’s Neill Blomkamp set to write and direct the adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s iconic sci-fi novel. The story, which focuses on an interstellar war against a horde of insect-like aliens, includes the character Johnny Rico, a military serviceman. Unlike the 1997 film adaptation, Blomkamp’s version will stick closer to the original material.

Neill Blomkamp to Direct New “Starship Troopers” Film for Columbia Pictures: A Return to Original Material

– Columbia Pictures is developing a new Starship Troopers film, which will be written and directed by District 9 creator Neill Blomkamp.
– The original story follows an interstellar war between Earth and bug-like aliens and features a militaristic society, focusing on the character of Johnny Rico.
– The new adaptation will aim to return to the novel’s source material, with Blomkamp’s track record suggesting a balance of deep themes and human-versus-alien conflict.

Columbia Pictures is planning a new Starship Troopers film, with District 9 director Neill Blomkamp taking the helm for the reinterpretation of the iconic sci-fi novel penned by Robert A. Heinlein.

In addition to directing, Blomkamp will also be producing the film with Terri Tatchell, his wife and collaborator on the South African filmmaker’s District 9 and 2015 venture, Chappie.

First published in 1959, Troopers is essentially a tale of intergalactic war between Earth and an army of insectoid extraterrestrials, focusing on the military ascension of one Johnny Rico. There are, however, underlying themes, such as presentations of life in a militaristic society and concepts like earning voting rights through service.

Although the novel won a Hugo Award for best novel and significantly influenced sci-fi literature, some described it as fascistic. This element was lampooned in the 1997 film adaptation by Paul Verhoeven, director of Robocop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, and Showgirls. Verhoeven over-exaggerated military nationalism, abuse of propaganda, fetishized uniforms, and Nazi undertones.

In the 1997 version, Johnny Rico was played by Casper Van Dien; the cast also featured Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Neil Patrick Harris and Michael Ironside. Despite a lukewarm initial reception and accusations of Verhoeven endorsing fascism, the film has since received a critical reassessment and gained a cult following.

Blomkamp’s adaptation will not repeat Verhoeven’s interpretation, and insiders reveal the aim is to stick closer to the original story.

Blomkamp’s recent directorial work has been pretty lackluster, but maybe he still has it in him. He’s demonstrated his ability to balance intricate themes with a human-alien dichotomy in his breakthrough feature District 9. This film performed well at the box office and clinched four Oscar nominations, including Best Picture and Best Adapted Screenplay for Blomkamp and Tatchell.