His name is Johnny Rico. He's from Buenos Aires. And what does he say, boys and girls? That's right...
"Kill 'em all!"
Rico is back, but don't call him Private. The hardened soldier of the mobile infantry has been bumped up to Colonel in Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, the second sequel stemming from Robert Heinlein's novel and Paul Verhoeven's acerbic and gleefully violent 1997 feature film that gave us bugs of all sizes, Denise Richards and a fan favorite line:
"We can ill-afford another Klandathu." Ed Neumeier (
Robocop) who has been on board the series as screenwriter since day one tests his mettle in the director's chair after Phil Tippett helmed
Starship Troopers 2: Hero of the Federation. Tippett's entry was a more contained affair
sans Rico as played by Casper Van Dien.
"They wanted me in the second one but it wasn't up to Neumeier," Van Dien explains to us during a phone chat.
"The director, Phil Tippet, didn't want any of the sense of humor from the first one or the original characters. He basically wanted to do a zombie movie in space. So, Ed said he would put me in his. There have been scripts for another Starship Troopers for the last four years - I've seen a total of five different versions of Starship Troopers 3."
The story that was eventually selected and greenlit finds Rico leading a squad on a rescue mission to Planet OM-1. There he needs to retrieve the survivors of a crashed Federation starship including Sky Marshal Anoke (Stephen Hogan) and pilot Lola Beck (Jolene Blalock). And in case you were wondering, the film picks up eleven years after Verhoeven's film. The war against the bugs continues and things are not looking good for the human race.
"Johnny Rico has grown, too," says Van Dien.
"He's a pure warrior. He joined the military in the first film for a chick. That never worked. He becomes a soldier in this. I think, often in the military, the true soldiers are the pure warriors, they're doing it for the right reasons and they get the job done."
Lensing took place in South Africa over the course of six weeks with two units working in unison, a task Van Dien says Neumeier faced head-on.
"It's a perfect segue for him to go from writer to director because he was on the set of Robocop every day and on the set of Starship Troopers every day. He has the best training by being around one of the best directors, Paul Verhoeven."
"Ed has a dark, sick sense of humor that is absolutely wonderful and just delicious. If you're sick," he continues with a laugh.
"I love that sense of humor, I love the way he writes. I love that most people miss stuff when they watch his films or even read them. They go 'Wait a minute, was that supposed to be like that? Because it's really pissing me off.' Starship Troopers had a sense of humor, Robocop had a sense of humor and this new Starship Troopers has the political fascism like the first one - and then some - it also has a religious twist that I think only Ed can do really well."
Some science fiction can be especially potent when it thematically reflects current real world drama. Asked if this new
Troopers, a snapshot in time during a never-ending war, parallels certain Middle East events, Van Dien responds:
"Ed always goes that deep. He writes about what he knows. Political satire. He applies things to different wars and war films." The actor shares a certain kinship with Neumeier in their affinity for John Wayne and John Ford films.
"We understood each other in this respect and I went back and re-watched all of those films when we were making this. That way I could apply some of that to the film and to see where he got some of his ideas and concepts. He wrote [Rico] with a lot of things he sees me. It was interesting to see someone write about you based on how they think you are - it gave me some insight into myself."
Departing from the human element for a moment, let's know Rico's foe. The bugs. By now fans recognize the spider-like warriors, the giant beetles that propel glowing, fiery goobers from their abdomen and the brain bugs with their overt vaginal visages.
Marauder offers a few new creepy crawlies.
"We have Robert Skotak, who won Academy Awards for Aliens and Terminator 2 doing the special effects on this film," Van Dien reveals. Joining Skotak is brother Dennis, revered in his own right.
"They added some more special effects than they were supposed to add. Robert was a huge fan of the book and wanted to be a part of the first film, but it didn't work out. He added some variations onto the standard bugs that we have but he made some really great new bugs off of Ed's script with his own sick perversions and twists. There are some new ways in which the bugs kill the Troopers. They're really funny, which is odd to say."
And to counter this menace, the Federation has whipped up a new weapon: The titular Marauder, a robotic suit that bears shades of
Robotech and the power loader from
Aliens (
take a look). However, if one takes a look at the source material, they'll see this is inspired by power suits worn by the troopers in Heinlein's story.
"That's the reason why I fell in love with Starship Troopers in the first place," Van Dien enthuses.
"I read the book when I was 12-years-old. On the movie I remember thinking, 'Wow, I was 12 and I really got this!' Then I went back to re-read it and I realized the satire was all Ed. But the satire that Ed wrote is different than any you find in the novel which I love because of the power suits and 'Kill 'em all!' The Marauder suits are awesome. Skotak has created a phenomenal weapon."
Van Dien says he would love to reprise his role as Johnny Rico one more time if given the chance and if Neumeier returned.
"It also depends on ShockTillYouDrop.com reader to support and push Sony to maraud them until they cave in to do another one!"
Would you like to know more?
Well, keep you eyes peeled for
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder when it storms its way onto DVD August 5th.
Comments
Posted by: R I D D I C K on June 27, 2008 at 16:44:45
LOVED the 1st film!!
2nd film STUNK BIG-TIME!
I hope that this one has lots of "fresh meat for the grinder".
Oh, and FIRST!!
Posted by: Munch on June 27, 2008 at 18:31:36
Attaching the Maurader suits to this film is primo! The pic provided certainly contains elements of my own imagining of the suits. Here's hoping they don't get a cheesey GCI rendering, and maintain their extreme mobileness and agility.
Posted by: Two Dogs on June 27, 2008 at 19:34:52
I remember seeing the 2nd movie on the shelf at my local Rogers Video......wow what a disapointment. After watching that horrible movie I watched the first one right after. I really hope this one is far better then the 2nd.
And I agree, I hope the CGI is not cheesey
Posted by: roger on June 27, 2008 at 20:14:16
Ican'twaitIcan'twaitIcan'wait!!!
I loved the first one. I saw it every Saturday night for as long as it was in the theaters. I don't care what people say about the second one, I loved it. It was really, really different(and violent as hell) but that's what I liked about it. And it did have the hot sexy blond for Nip/Tuck naked in it and that's what made it for me...and the violence!
Posted by: mikeym7 on June 28, 2008 at 02:06:50
"Posted by: R I D D I C K on June 27, 2008 at 16:44:45
Oh, and FIRST!!"
If figures that you would put that stupid **** here.
FIRST!!!!!.....Wow!!! So goddamn stupid.
Stop being such an idiot.
Posted by: Jamie on June 28, 2008 at 03:34:32
Hell yeah! Starship Troopers ****ing rocks! I have always been a big fan of the book and I love the movies. Can't wait for this one, the trailer looks amazing!
Posted by: Steven Millan on June 28, 2008 at 03:56:29
Had Casper Van Dien been in "Starship Troopers 2",this series would have been a DTV franchise for him to fall back on,for hopefully this film will do good for him(and that it'll return to what made the first film work).
Posted by: Andy007 on June 28, 2008 at 04:09:20
I dont know, it seems to capture the awe of the first film, you REALLY need Paul V. on board. Direct-to-Video is NEVER a good sign.
Posted by: Seiryu on June 28, 2008 at 09:59:29
At least it's another installment with returning characters. Sure, the second one was terrible, but I remember playing the Poledouris' battle theme from the first movie OVER the action scenes from the second, and that made it many times better.
For the second movie, the music killed it.
Need to bring back that original attack
Posted by: Justin Novak on June 29, 2008 at 09:25:25
Awesome! I was Hoping the power suits would be in this. Thay better make a 4th one. They're finally doing a good sequal and since hollywood is all like "oh make a trilogy" for everything, Im really hoping to see one more after this. Epsecially if they could get Neil Patrick Harris and Casper back together. Cant wait to see 3. I've been waiting for this one since 97. The second one was ok, but this is what i've been waiting for.
Posted by: RoxAnne on July 2, 2008 at 23:33:21
I saw the first Storm Troopers... I am going to be honest and say that I didn't even know that there was a second. From the way that everyone is talking I am glad I missed it, I fairly excited to see this one though. With the common knowledge that sequels blow, I hope this third installments is much better than I am expecting.
Posted by: The Lone Ranger on July 13, 2008 at 18:21:22
Holy crap. I have to respond to Seiryu's comment. You seriously played the music from the first movie over the second? You put that much work into it? Have you NOTHING better to do with your time? I mean, I can't even imagine how much of a total loser you would have to be to even come up with the IDEA to do that, let alone waste the time to perform the actual task. Do you ever wonder how horribly your life must have gone wrong that you can splice the music from a fairly mediocre movie (at best) into it's horrible sequel? And to think that makes it better, that's unbelievable. That movie was a horrid piece of trash no matter how you slice it. You've lowered my opinion of the human race with your incredible loserality, you giant dork.
Posted by: mRjosH08 on July 16, 2008 at 23:26:40
Wow, there was really no need for that. You have just lowered my opinion of the human race not seiryu. What a total douchebag you must be, So what if he does that what is it to you. F*****g *******!
And about the 3rd movie, i have just watched it .... Im telling you, dont get your hopes up !!!
Posted by: The Other Lone Ranger on July 18, 2008 at 17:05:07
mRjosH08, you have chosen.... poorly...
Posted by: kdawg224 on July 20, 2008 at 16:21:30
i have seen this movie it rocks!but the cgi is a bit cheesy in spots.mostly when there are multipule bugs on screen.but i'd give it a 9 just because starship troopers rocks,and this movie brings it back to it's root's.it was as if the secend movie didn't happen and that's they way i like it.
Posted by: Cris on July 25, 2008 at 10:11:57
I dunno... I'm not holding my breath with this one, I really loved the first one, but direct to dvd releases always sucks, there's a clear reason why the don't make it to the big screen...
Posted by: Peter on July 27, 2008 at 23:05:43
Oh, Dear God, PLEASE let it be more like the book then the first one! After watching the first movie I immediately went back to the book to make sure I went to the right theater. And Paul V could have made it so good. Apparently, Aliens contained a lot of the elements from the book (and the actors were required to read it as part of their prep before shooting). So all PV had to do was to watch the Aliens and just follow up with something that look a little bit like a military-action movie and not 90210 on steroids - hair gel and all..
Posted by: not a huge fan on August 21, 2008 at 16:44:47
I saw the first one just for fun and it was pretty good. I don't think I saw the second... This movie was all over the place - I couldn't figure out if it was sponsored by the far right or the far left. It seemed like either could've been responsible just very very confused. NOT a good movie - too preachy and with all the back and forth it was a sermon I'd rather have slept through.
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