Death Stranding is getting a live-action film adaptation from A24

Hideo Kojima’s work is heading to the silver screen. Announced today, A24 is bringing Kojima Production’s Death Stranding into live-action. The film is said to delve into the blurring between life and death, the titular “Death Stranding”, that brought horrific monsters into an ever-collapsing world.

The announcement comes days before the game’s eighth anniversary. Speaking about the adaptation on his website, Kojima said:

“A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other. 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,” Kojima stated. “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 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.”

No word yet on who will take the director’s chair or other roles on the live-action adaptation.

Building Bridges

For those who don’t know, 2019’s Death Stranding is about Sam Porter Bridges, who delivers packages all around the broken United States. It’s weird, twisted, and definitely the most memorable title of the last decade. The game bolstered an impressive celebrity cast, with the likes of Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead), Léa Seydoux (Spectre), Mads Mikkelsen (Doctor Strange), and Margaret Qualley (Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). It’s unknown if any of the star-studded cast will reprise their roles for the live-action film.

This is big news for Kojima fans. The creator of Metal Gear is a gigantic cinephile, if his Twitter is anything to go by. This isn’t his first film, as he had a documentary, titled Hideo Kojima: Connecting Worlds, which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. It’s also expected to be released on Disney+ early next year. Kojima, in gaming, just revealed his newest (and weirdest) project, OD, at this year’s Game Awards. Last year, he announced a sequel to Death Stranding, which looks to continue the abstract horror the original had.

A24, the company behind the production, is one of Hollywood’s biggest up-and-comers. Last year, the studio released Everything, Everywhere, All at Once, which took home seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Other films they have made include Moonlight, Ex Machina, Hereditary, and Midsommar.

As one of my favorite studios in the game, it’s weird seeing them take on a big project like this. However, it does fit with their abstract aesthetic and flair for the unique. To be honest, I think that, on paper, it’s a definite match. However, it remains to be seen if it’ll translate into live-action. I’ll see you all on the beach.