Kojima is partnering with Hammerstone Studios for a strand adaptation
The strand genre is moving to the silver screen. Kojima Productions is teaming up with Hammerstone Studios to produce a film adaptation of Death Stranding.
Hideo Kojima will produce alongside Hammerstone Studios’ Alex Lebovici, who executive produced this year’s surprise horror hit Barbarian. The film is being fully financed by Hammerstone (per Variety), with Kojima Productions US and Allan Ungar as executive producers.
The plot, according to Variety, is being kept under wraps, though the outlet’s heard that it will introduce new elements and characters. No writer or director is publicly locked in yet.
“We are thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with brilliant and iconic Hideo Kojima on his first film adaptation,” said 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.”
An interesting twist to a Death Stranding film adaptation is the source material itself. Kojima Productions’ 2019 game has a lot of stars in it. Norman Reedus plays the lead role of Sam “Porter” Bridges, Léa Seydoux plays Fragile, and Mads Mikkelsen plays a certain antagonistic force as well. Additionally, several side roles feature stars like Margaret Qualley, or Heartman’s likeness Nicolas Winding Refn. Whether or not any of those actors return for their roles in this version is up in the air.
A new strand
Alongside the film adaptation in the works, Kojima has also confirmed his studio is working on the sequel to 2019’s game, Death Stranding 2. The Game Awards 2022 reveal shows actors like Reedus and Seydoux returning for the follow-up, as well as some big ships and a creepy new character.
This also adds Death Stranding to the growing pile of adaptations in the works. We just got confirmation that Amazon’s God of War series is moving forward, and elsewhere, Netflix is working on a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation and HBO’s The Last of Us is set to premiere in January.
