Sony is reportedly developing a new reboot of the Starship Troopers franchise, with acclaimed director Neill Blomkamp, known for films like District 9, Elysium, and Chappie, set to write and direct. This new project, announced by The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed by Deadline and Variety, will be a fresh adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 military sci-fi novel, produced by Sony's Columbia Pictures. It is important to note that this film will not be a sequel or related to Paul Verhoeven's 1997 cult classic, which famously satirized the source material.

The announcement of Blomkamp's involvement comes at an interesting time, as Sony recently revealed plans for a live-action adaptation of the popular PlayStation game Helldivers, which draws significant inspiration from Verhoeven's Starship Troopers. Helldivers features soldiers fighting for a satirical fascist regime against alien bugs, echoing themes from Verhoeven's film. This creates a unique situation where Sony will have two projects, both inspired by the same source material but with different approaches, potentially competing in the market.

Blomkamp's new Starship Troopers film aims to return to the original tone and themes of Heinlein's novel, which differs significantly from Verhoeven's satirical take. While Heinlein's book is often interpreted as promoting the very ideals that Verhoeven's film mocks, Blomkamp's adaptation promises to explore the source material in a new light.

As of now, neither the new Starship Troopers nor the Helldivers movie has a confirmed release date, suggesting that fans may have to wait a while before seeing these projects come to fruition. Blomkamp's most recent work was the Sony-produced Gran Turismo, an adaptation of the popular PlayStation driving simulation series.