Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributorsIt looks like it mary very well be time for more space, more guns, and more bug blood. No, it’s not another “Alien” movie. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Neill Blomkamp (“District 9”) has been tapped to write and direct a new version of “Starship Troopers,” last adapted in 1997 by sci-fi satirist Paul Verhoeven. Blomkamp will also produce the film alongside his wife and longtime collaborator Terri Tatchell. Tom Hiddleston Shines In ‘The Life of Chuck’ TeaserRather than a remake of the 1997 version of “Starship Troopers,” Blomkamp intends to go for a more faithful adaptation of the 1959 novel by Robert A. Heinlein. It’s an interesting choice in today’s climate, considering the novel looked at ideas that had critics calling novelist Heinlein a fascist at the time.
“Starship Troopers” 1997
“Starship Troopers” 1997
TriStar Pictures
In fact it was the messages of nationalism and a military directed society that Paul Verhoeven was satirizing in 1997’s “Starship Troopers.” The film is known for being woefully misunderstood upon its release, with many critics missing the satire (which was a signature piece of Verhoeven’s sci-fi work, e.g. “RoboCop” and “Total Recall”) and saw it as naked imperialistic propaganda.Casper Van Dien played the hero Johnny Rico in the 1997 film. He’s joined by Neil Patrick Harris, Jake Busey, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Clancy Brown, Patrick Muldoon, and Michael Ironside. The film was a financial disappointment, earning $121 million against a production budget of $100 million. But in the years that followed it’s achieved an impressive cult status, and is practically considered mandatory viewing among science fiction fans.Like Verhoeven, Blomkamp boasts impressive sci-fi chops like “District 9,” “Chappie,” and “Elysium.” He’s also bumped up against the “RoboCop” and “Alien” franchises only to have those projects not realized. His last film was 2023’s “Gran Turismo,” which earned $122 million against a production budget of $60 million.The “Starship Troopers” reboot begs the question of whether or not there is a trend brewing of late twentieth century science fiction films being rebooted but not remade, with the younger directors going for the source material. Edgar Wright is working on “The Running Man” with Glen Powell starring, based on the dystopian 1982 novel written by Stephen King. The book was already adapted in 1987 with a film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, but Wright’s movie, like Blomkamp’s, hopes to stay much closer to the source material.More Movies:Jenna Ortega Says She Was Already In A Marvel Movie Everyone Forgot Marvel Debunks ‘Avengers: Secret Wars’ Spoilers
