by Matt Sernaker, Editor-in-Chief,

ComicsOnline returns to C2E2 for more exclusive interviews! Next up, we return to the world of Starship Troopers with our old friend, Casper Van Dien (better known as Johnny Rico of the Roughnecks). Check out the full interview below:

ComicsOnline: Casper, it’s exciting to celebrate Starship Troopers with you at C2E2. Thank you for sharing your time with us.

Casper Van Deen: Thanks for having me, man. This film has made such an impact for so many people for decades now.

CO: How does it feel to have so many of your peers and castmates at this event in particular to celebrate this movie?

CVD: Well, I love seeing my Starship Troopers family. I love that we have that this together, and it’s just always awesome to see them all.

CO: I would love to hear some of the behind the scenes stories, and I was hoping you could talk about the casting process for the film.

CVD: I met with Paul Verhoeven and Ed Neumeier at the audition, and I think they knew right away that I was the guy. I don’t know why or how. I was sitting out in the casting office and Ed Neumeier came out and looked at me and waved me to come over. I came into his room, and he had a musket from a rifle from the First World War. I picked it up and I asked him first and I did a couple of drills with it and put it back down and told him I went to military school. I went back and sat down. We talked. We had a nice conversation, and then Paul Verhoeven came out of the office and saw me and pointed at me and dropped a ball and kicked it at me. I stopped it, and he goes and kicked it back and he goes, “no, harder.” He kicked it really hard. I kicked it really hard, and it hit a filing cabinet right in front of Alan Marshall, the producer’s face, who just looked at me and turned around and went back in the office. And then Paul goes, great, now let’s do the audition… That’s how I went in all sweaty. I felt bad for all the other guys that were sitting out there waiting to go in because that just felt like they singled me out really well right away.

CO: I know that we’ve previously talked about how well the CGI elements have held up, but are there any set pieces in particular that still stand out to you?

CVD: I just think the amount of detail that they put into each like bug hit on the ground. You see a dust hit off every leg that goes off and all the visual effects that went with it. I think it’s amazing. The time and effort they put into it. A lot of details to make it look real. Even though these aren’t real creatures, they made them look real. And it’s amazing and it was awesome.

CO: When we were talking yesterday, you said that the stories and moments with fans were really important for you. Could you share some of those with our readers?

CVD: You know, there’s so many. I had a girl that came up to me and she just was shaking and crying and said that it’s what she watched with her father before he passed. It meant everything to her and she just wanted to come and get an autograph because it reminded her of her dad. She wanted a big hug and it’s just really sweet. I have a lot of people tell me they signed up in the military because of that. I’ve had just so many touching stories. So many people come up and I’m just always honored and flattered. It just means everything to me that people get excited about a movie you do, and that they can still quote it, you know, 28 years later. I’m a lucky man.

CO: I’ve just rewatched it recently as well, and it’s still one of my favorites. Michael’s speech at the beginning talking about choices, I think for me, that was probably one of my biggest takeaways from the film. Does that hit home for you, too?

CVD: Well, you know, Michael has always been an influential person, the character he was in the movie and behind the scenes he was for me, too. I’ve always been inspired by him and I’m really grateful for his presence and his his wisdom.

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Special thanks for Casper Van Dien and the team at C2E2 for arranging this interview.

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