Rather than Metal Gear, it’s Death Stranding which is going to be the first Hideo Kojima game to be turned into a movie.
Anyone who knows Hideo Kojima is aware of how much the man loves movies. He even initially wanted to get into filmmaking, before he began his career in the games industry.
This is very apparent when you play the likes of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding, with their ultra long, cinematic cut scenes and, in the case of Death Stranding, Hollywood casting.
Now, after so many years, Kojima can finally add film producer to his list of credits, as he and his studio Kojima Productions are working on a Death Stranding movie.
Plot details are being kept under wraps, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll be a straight adaptation of the original game’s story.
Aside from the fact that the game has too much story to condense into even a two hour flick, the movie is said to introduce entirely new characters and elements. So, even the most diehard of Death Stranding fans will be in for some surprises.
Kojima Productions has partnered with producer Alex Lebovici and his Hammerstone Studios, which is not only helping with production but fully financing the project as well.
Allen Ungar, meanwhile, is listed as executive producer. Ungar already has experience with game-to-movie adaptations, having also been the director/co-writer for the Uncharted movie… or rather the fan-made Uncharted YouTube movie from 2018 that’s only 14 minutes long and had Nathan Fillion in the lead role.
‘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.’
Lebovici is equally thrilled about the collaboration and, perhaps aware of the usually spotty reputation of game-to-movie adaptations, promises the Death Stranding movie will ‘redefine what a video game adaptation could be when you have creative and artistic freedom.’
‘Unlike other big budget tentpole video game adaptations, this will be something far more intimate and grounded,’ said Lebovici, adding that it’ll be an ‘authentic Hideo Kojima production.’
There’s no mention of who will serve as director or if any of the game’s actors will reprise their roles. A release window wasn’t shared either, with it be described only as ;on the fast track with development underway.’
This announcement comes just a week after Kojima annouced Death Stranding’s sequel (simply titled Death Stranding 2 for now) at The Game Awards. The trailer didn’t reveal any gameplay, focusing on teasing the story and confirming Norman Reedus’ return as protagonist Sam Bridges.
Kojima is certainly keeping himself busy between the movie, game sequel, and a separate Xbox project. Although Kojima has been tight-lipped about that last one, several details on the Xbox game have slipped through the cracks and point to it being a survival horror title called Overdose.
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