Paul Verhoeven on U.S. Space Force’s ‘Starship Troopers’-Inspired Uniforms: “It’s Based on Leni Riefenstahl”
The director of the 1997 sci-fi film, which has often been misunderstood, says the gung-ho soldiers who are its heroes "are fascists without knowing that they’re fascists. That’s the point.”
In the past few days, former Starship Troopers director Paul Verhoeven has been adamant about clarifying his film's reference to Nazis. Last week, President Trump shared a mockup of Space Force uniforms that bore a striking resemblance to those worn by the Nazi forces. The Trump administration's decision to use such imagery has not gone unnoticed by Verhoeven, who has now taken it upon himself to explain the satire behind his movie.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Verhoeven stated, "It's an honor, isn't it?" when discussing the topic, implying that the Trump administration should be fully aware of the origins of the Starship Troopers uniform design. He emphasizes that the movie was intended as a satirical commentary on fascism, and claims that the characters in the film are indeed portrayed as fascists.
This misinterpretation of the film's message has been a source of frustration for Verhoeven, who believes that the film's intended humor and message were not fully understood. The director also notes that people involved in the creation of the film were disappointed with the results, further highlighting the misreading of its intended message.
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