Starship Troopers remains an iconic cult classic franchise, with the 1997 adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s novel paving the way for its success. After several live-action and anime movies, the franchise is all set to be rebooted with a new take on the source material in development.
According to a new report, director Neill Blomkamp has been tapped to helm the upcoming project. As a result, Starship Troopers is likely to be updated for a modern audience. However, Blomkamp’s involvement with the project means bad news for one sequel I have been eagerly waiting for since the past sixteen years, and here’s why.
Neill Blomkamp’s Starship Troopers means bad news for a District 9 sequel
Starship Troopers was launched with the 1997 live-action adaptation of Robert A. Heinlein’s novel of the same name. Despite receiving negative reviews earlier on, the film amassed a cult following for its satirical take on common sci-fi and space opera tropes.
The film spawned a multi-media franchise, but a new live-action installment hasn’t materialized in well over a decade. However, the franchise is reportedly receiving a fresh reboot, with director Neill Blomkamp set to direct the upcoming project (via The Hollywood Reporter).
According to the report, Blomkamp’s version will go back to adapting the source material more faithfully compared to Paul Verhoeven’s over-the-top 1997 adaptation. However, Blomkamp’s involvement with the project means development on a sequel to his 2009 sci-fi film, District 9 will be stalled.
District 9 put Blomkamp on the map with the director’s ability to explore complex themes of humanity, xenophobia, and social segregation via a sci-fi narrative, earning him critical acclaim. As a result, the director is an ideal fit to helm an adaptation of Heinlein’s Hugo Award-winning novel.
Neill Blomkamp already cast doubt on the District 9 sequel happening
Made on a modest budget of $30 million, District 9 emerged as a financial success, grossing $210.8 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). As a result, a sequel was rumored to be in the works, with Blomkamp himself confirming his interest in a 2013 interview with IGN.
Since then, Blomkamp has received a mixture of critical praise and commercial success with his other directorial ventures. He most recently directed the 2023 biographical sports drama Gran Turismo. However, a sequel to District 9 has stalled because of Blomkamp’s other commitments.
I don’t know if it’s getting made or not. I don’t know if I even want to make that right now, but at some point down the line, it’ll probably get made.
Blomkamp made the above comment during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 while promoting his then-upcoming film. The filmmaker’s comments strongly suggest that a sequel to the 2009 film has either been shelved or paused in development.
Furthermore, Blomkamp confirmed that Sony Pictures was still attached to a proposed District 10 movie. However, the director himself did not have much of an interest in helming a sequel to the movie at this point in his career. As a result, with Blomkamp moving on to the Starship Troopers reboot, I highly doubt we will get to see a District 10 anytime soon.
District 9 can be rented on Amazon Prime Video.
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