Starship Troopers TV show: Casper Van Dien wants in with Jake Busey

Last Updated on July 30, 2021

A STARSHIP TROOPERS TV show has been discussed in the past but we haven't heard any updates in some time. Last year, original writer Ed Neumeier detailed plans that were underway for a possible series based on the 1997 sci-fi film which is, itself, based on the novel of the same name by Robert A. Heinlein. If the TV show moves forward, one of the film's stars is game to return and he wants to bring one of his co-stars with him.

Casper Van Dien, who plays Johnny Rico in the film franchise, says he's eager to return for the show and even revealed that he was involved in the development process while talking with "MovieWeb." Van Dien was discussing his new movie THE 2ND and he was asked about what was going on with the STARSHIP TROOPERS show and here's what he had to say:

"I was very involved with it. Sony even asked me to talk to a director that I've worked with. Huge, top-notch director. We were talking and I don't know whatever happened to it. We were in talks for doing it and I would still love to play old man Rico. I would love to come in and be me and play Johnny Rico again. It's been a blast being Johnny Rico, having Starship Troopers, and just seeing the reaction that people have. When people talking about it, I love it. It's been a joy of mine because people are never really that negative about it. They'll yell at me, but they're yelling like, 'Oh, my God, Rico! Come on, you apes! You wanna live forever?' For me, that's always awesome. They get so excited and I love the enthusiasm. I love the appreciation. For the last 24 years, that's what I've been. I've been Johnny Rico. Probably more than Casper. I think I've gotten more recognized for being Johnny Rico than anything. If we got to do the series, I would be on top of the world. Right now, nothing's happening that I know of."

Casper Van Dien first took on the role of Johnny Rico in 1997's STARSHIP TROOPERS and he then returned for the third film STARSHIP TROOPERS 3: MARAUDER in 2008. The actor even voiced Rico once more in the animated Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars in 2017. Although he's not sure what's going on with the show now, he reiterated that he is still on board and that other members of the cast, most notably Jake Busey, would be as well:

"If they want to do it, I'm still on board, and I know the director they were talking to is still excited about the opportunity. I know that the cast that they could come back. I know some of them. I know that Jake Busey would be all over it, and I would love it. He's got a 'death from above' tattoo for real now on his arm. He went out and did it. He's like, 'You gotta go do it, Casper!' I haven't done it yet."

Van Dien has a lot of respect for the franchise, even though at the time of the first film's release, the movie wasn't exactly a huge hit out of the gate. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, the film grossed $54.5 million at the domestic box office and $121.2 million worldwide on a $105 million budget. The film found a cult following when it became available for home viewing and through its numerous airings on TV over the years. The film actually got surprisingly decent reviews upon release, scoring a fresh 64% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and the movie even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Visual Effects at the 70th Academy Awards. The cast also includes Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Muldoon, and Michael Ironside. Due to the increased visibility of the film over the years, Van Dien says he's proud to be a part of it and is even still close with various people who worked on the production:

"I love all of the guys from Starship. I'm still friends with a lot of people from there. I'm good friends with Ed Neumeier, who wrote it. I'm good friends with Garrett Warren who was a stuntman on it and now is a second unit director. He was the stunt coordinator on Avatar, Logan, The Master. You name it, he does it. Pat Muldoon, we've always been friends. These guys are still in my life."

I'm not a huge fan of the film but I do think it could work a bit better as a TV series so I hope that does come to fruition because I'd like to see how they would approach it. Do YOU want a STARSHIP TROOPERS TV show? Who from the original film would you like to see return?