Film studio A24, known for producing Midsommar and Everything Everywhere All At Once, is behind the upcoming Death Stranding movie. The news comes over a year after Deadline reported that Barbarian producer Alex Lebovici would produce the film adaptation of Kojima’s open-world game with Hammerstone Studios.
Whether Hammerstone is involved in some capacity remains unknown.
A24 made the announcement in a very Kojima-like manner – with a shirt and a cryptic tease. The studio announced a T-shirt that featured Death Stranding’s distinct style and then said in a Twitter post that A24 was working on the film with Kojima. After fans picked up on that little blurb, the studio released a short, official statement.
“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 said.
It’s official: we’ve partnered with Kojima Productions on the live-action feature film adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s acclaimed video game, DEATH STRANDING. pic.twitter.com/ypZGRiZVvY
— A24 (@A24) December 14, 2023
Death Stranding the game takes place after that cataclysm and follows Sam Porter Bridges as he delivers parcels across the shattered nation and builds bridges in the process. Yes, it’s more than a little on the nose, but in a game with a villain called Die Hardman, that’s not really surprising.
“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 separate statement that IGN obtained. “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 eight 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,” Kojima continued. “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.”
Whether that means Kojima Productions envisions multiple Death Stranding adaptations or just one that ties into the game world – and Death Stranding 2 – remains to be seen.
A24 and Kojima Productions didn’t say when production begins or when they anticipate the Death Stranding movie to release.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
