Sony is working on a new reboot of the Starship Troopers franchise, with Neill Blomkamp, known for directing films like District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, set to write and direct. According to reports from The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, and Variety, this upcoming movie is a fresh adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, and will be produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures. It is not a sequel or related to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic sci-fi satire, Starship Troopers.

The announcement of Blomkamp's involvement in the new Starship Troopers film is intriguing, especially since Sony recently revealed plans for a live-action adaptation of the PlayStation game Helldivers. Helldivers, developed by Arrowhead, draws heavy inspiration from Verhoeven’s Starship Troopers, featuring soldiers fighting for a satirical fascist regime dubbed Super Earth against alien bugs and other factions while promoting themes of Liberty and Managed Democracy.

Sony now faces the unique challenge of managing two similar projects: the new Starship Troopers film and the Helldivers movie. However, The Hollywood Reporter clarifies that Blomkamp’s project aims to stay true to Heinlein’s original novel, which differs significantly in tone from Verhoeven's satirical take. Heinlein’s work is often interpreted as endorsing the very 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 may need to wait some time before seeing either project come to fruition. Blomkamp's most recent directorial effort was Sony’s Gran Turismo, based on the popular PlayStation driving simulation series.