A24, the studio behind Academy Award winning films such as Everything Everywhere All At Once has announced a collaboration with Kojima Productions to adapt Hideo Kojima’s acclaimed video game, Death Stranding, into a live-action feature movie.
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.
Hailed as the architect of the stealth genre and a pioneer in interactive storytelling, Hideo Kojima continually shifts the boundaries between film and game. Widely considered the father of the stealth genre, he is also credited with innovating both story-telling and cinematic presentation in video games at large. In 2020, Hideo Kojima received the BAFTA Fellowship, the highest accolade bestowed by BAFTA upon an individual in recognition of exceptional contribution to film, games or television.
Hideo Kojima had this to say: “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. 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.”
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 (played by 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 and went on to sell over 5 million copies and win numerous awards. A second game is currently in development.
