New ‘Starship Troopers’ Movie in the Works from ‘District 9’ Filmmaker Neill Blomkamp (Exclusive)
New Starship Troopers Movie in the Works from Neill Blomkamp
Columbia Pictures is plotting a new Starship Troopers movie, setting District 9 filmmaker Neill Blomkamp to write and direct an adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel story by Robert A. Heinlein.
Aren't there a bunch of sequels in the books?
I don't believe Heinlein ever wrote a sequel to Starship Troopers, though certainly the "military science fiction" genre owes a lot to that book.
Ed Neumeier (who wrote Robocop and the 97 movie) however, wrote and directed the 2 live action film sequels. The second is, from memory, God awful and not worth a watch. The third is ALSO God awful as I recall, but it has the advantage of going pretty big with its ideas, so there's a bit of zany fun to be had. Plus, despite it being one of the defining features of the book, it's also the first time (I think) power armor makes an appearance in the film franchise. Casper van Dien's star had fallen sufficiently by that point too, so he also reprises his role as Rico, which is another point in its favor.
There also a handful of computer animated movies and a TV series that I believe originated in Japan. They are about on par, quality wise, with the CGI Resident Evil movies. Depending on your tastes, that could either be a mild endorsement or a resounding condemnation.
Its been YEARS but my memory of the starship troopers sequels is similar to yours. The second being terrible, the third being fun and terrible.
I do remember one of the animated ones being pretty damn good story wise, but those animated ones always lack soul.
I watched the older animated one (Invasion) a few months ago, and my experience tracks with you. Brain bug is taking over a Federation ship and trying to crash into Earth for conquest purposes (sort of an Alen: Resurrection thing going on there). It's up to Rico, Carmen, and (maybe) Carl to stop the ship before it arrives. It's 90 minutes of mid-2010s videogame cutscene, and is a fun bit of frivolous nothing, if that's what you want.
The latter animated movie (Traitor of Mars) brings back Casper van Dien (and Dina Meyer, which is interesting depending on if this is a sequel or a prequel), but I've not seen that one yet.
No there arent sequels.
However there is the Forever War series by Joe Haldeman, which he claimed was influenced by Stormship Troopers (and his own war experience). Mechanical super warriors in space but instead of glorifying war it showed a darker side.
Heinlein actually told Haldeman at an award ceremony that his book "may be the best future war story I've ever read!"
This is my go to example when bitching about "Why make another spider man? You could make The Forever War!"
Are you perhaps thinking of Ender's Game? I get the two books confused occasionally too for some reason