Hideo Kojima’s Kojima Productions and Alex Lebovici’s Hammerstone Studios are working on a film adaptation of 2019’s Death Stranding, Deadline reports.
The Death Stranding film will be financed by Lebovici’s production company, which recently achieved success with the surprise horror hit Barbarian. Kojima—who created, directed, wrote, and designed the game—will serve as a producer on the project, marking Kojima Productions’ first-ever live-action film. Details regarding the plot haven’t been released, but it will reportedly introduce new concepts and characters. Development is underway, although no writer or director is currently attached.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with Hammerstone Studios,” said Kojima. “This is a pivotal moment for the franchise and I’m really looking forward to collaborating with them in bringing Death Stranding to the big screen.”
The game follows courier Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by The Walking Dead actor Norman Reedus, as he reconnects communities across the United States following a cataclysmic event known as the “Death Stranding.” The world is shown as desolate after the event opened a doorway between the living and the dead. Death Stranding first released on PlayStation 4 in 2019, while a PC release followed less than a year later. The game has since had an expanded “Director’s Cut” re-release on PlayStation 5.
“We are thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with brilliant and iconic Hideo Kojima on his first film adaptation,” added Lebovici. “Unlike other big budget tentpole video game adaptations, this will be something far more intimate and grounded. Our goal is to redefine what a video game adaptation could be when you have creative and artistic freedom. This film will be an authentic ‘Hideo Kojima’ production.”
The news comes not long after Kojima showed up at The Game Awards to announce the sequel, Death Stranding 2. He will serve as the sequel’s writer, director, producer, and designer.
Death Stranding featured an all-star cast that included Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, Lindsay Wagner, Tommie Earl Jenkins, and Troy Baker. Directors Guillermo Del Toro and Nicolas Winding Refn also lended their likeness to the game, but did not provide voice acting or motion capture performances. No word on whether any of the cast is expected to reprise their roles in the film.
Reedus, Seydoux, and Baker will reprise their roles in the upcoming sequel, and will be joined by newcomers Elle Fanning and Shioli Kutsuna.
