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In 1997 a science fiction film called Starship Troopers hit theaters.

Not everyone got it.

The film lampooned fascism and pro-war sentiments, but the message was too subtle for audiences. While the movie didn’t make any big waves at the box office, time has treated it well. Audiences now understand the nuance, and the movie has become somewhat of a cult classic.

Speaking to a crowd at The Only Good Bug Is a Dead Bug: A Starship Troopers Reunion panel at C2E2 2025, the cast reflected on the film’s beloved status, and their original hopes while filming it.

“I don’t that any of us thought it was going to be a cult classic,” Dina Meyer said. “We’re certainly happy that it has become such a film. I think other than Michael [Ironside], who was a veteran actor from the get-go, we were just a bunch of newbies that were all excited to be on this $100 million huge effects and Paul Verhoeven production. We thought it was going to be huge when it came out.”

“We thought we were in the next Star Wars,” Jake Busey recalled. “We were surprised that it went over some people’s heads,” Casper Van Dien said.

“I remember a few times someone kind of waxing poetic on wouldn’t it be something if this was a huge hit. Could you imagine that excitement of being 22, 24, or 26 years old and we could be in something giant there. And never thinking about this thing is going to totally bomb at the box office,” Jake Busey.

Maybe they didn’t become the next big science fiction franchise, but the film is still being discussed today. The political satire in the movie is just as relevant as ever, and fans still go to conventions to see the stars. They didn’t become the next Star Wars, but that’s okay, because Starship Troopers is doing just fine.  

Popverse members can watch The Only Good Bug Is a Dead Bug: A Starship Troopers Reunion from C2E2 2025's Main Stage powered by CGC x JSA for yourself as part of Popverse's all-encompassing coverage of C2E2 2025. 

Did you miss a C2E2 Main Stage panel? Don't worry, we're filming it all thanks to our partners at CGC x JSA -  our official authenticator & grading partner. Here is the C2E2 2025 panel list and release schedule.