Death Stranding, the wildly popular 2019 action video game from creator Hideo Kojima, is coming to the big screen. A24 is teaming with Kojima Productions to develop a live-action film adaptation of the title, which has sold over five million copies and has a reputation as one of the best video games of the 21st century.
The announcement of a “Death Stranding” live-action movie comes just ahead of Kojima Productions’ eighth anniversary on Dec. 16. A synopsis from the two companies reads: “The film promises to delve into the mysteries surrounding the apocalyptic event called the ‘Death Stranding,’ which blurred the lines between life and death, and brought forth nightmarish creatures into a world on the brink of collapse.”
“A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other,” Kojima said in a statement. “The films they are delivering to the world are high in quality and very innovative. I have been attracted to their creations and they have even inspired my own work. Their innovative approach to storytelling aligns with what Kojima Productions has been doing for the last 8 years. Now, we are making a ‘Death Stranding’ movie together.”
“There are a lot of ‘game adaptation films’ out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game,” the video game creator added. “The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a ‘Death Stranding’ universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born.”
The game Death Stranding is set in the United States after a cataclysmic event unleashes destructive creatures onto the planet. Players take control of a courier named Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), who is tasked with bringing resources to colonies across the country and connecting them through a wireless network. The video game also featured Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux and Margaret Qualley, among others. It originally launched on Nov. 8, 2019 on PlayStation 4. A director’s cut was released for PlayStation 5 in September 2021. A second game is currently in development.
