Any time a movie adaptation of a video game is announced, questions often arise of whether it will be a retelling of the same stories we’ve already experienced before. Similar questions came up when an A24-produced adaptation of Death Stranding was announced. During the recent 10th Anniversary livestream from earlier this week, Hideo Kojima, along with movie director Michael Sarnoski, have confirmed that the Death Stranding movie will be telling its own original story rather than retelling the stories we’ve experienced in the games.
Sarnoski described the story of the movie as one that would capture the soul and themes of the game while still telling a completely new story that we haven’t seen before. Through this story, he noted that we would get to explore new characters as well.
“I think, with this project, we really want to capture the soul of the game, capture the themes of the game, but tell a story you haven’t seen in that world and explore characters you haven’t seen before, and find all of that scope and all of those incredible real locations, but also find all of those nuanced characters and just do justice to this on a macro and micro scale,” said Sarnoski (via IGN).
He also spoke about trying to find the right balance of telling a completely original story while still taking place in the same universe that was already depicted in the games. Through the movie, Sarnoski wants to make the world of Death Stranding more accessible to those that might not have already played the games, while also giving something new to fans of the series as well.
“We’re trying to find another story that you’ve never seen in this same universe that is both accessible to people that have never played these games before but will also give something to people that know the games really well,” Sarnoski explained. “I think finding that balance and finding a way to tell a human story in this world that captures everything that we love about it, as well as being able to stand on its own two feet, is really the goal.”
Kojima had previously spoken about the Death Stranding movie earlier this year, and noted that Sarnoski was a good choice for directing the adaptation thanks to being smart and having good taste. During the same episode of his Koji10 radio show, he also said that it is going to be “an unbelievable and strange film”.
The movie adaptation of Death Stranding was first announced all the way back in 2022. It was announced as being co-produced by Kojima along with Barbarian executive producer Alex Lebovici. Along with the two, Kojima Productions US and Allan Ungar were also announced as serving the role of executive producers, with the movie’s funding coming from Hammerstone Studios.
The involvement of A24 for the movie adaptation was announced back in 2023. The company is known for having produced critically-acclaimed movies across a wide variety of genres with films like Everything Everywhere All at Once, Uncut Gems, Hereditary and Midsommar.
As you wait for the release of the Death Stranding movie, check out our review of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, which is available on PS5.
This is an exciting development! It’s always interesting to see how different mediums can explore the same universe in unique ways. Looking forward to what original story they’ll bring to life!
I completely agree! Adapting a game like Death Stranding offers a unique opportunity to delve deeper into its themes of connection and isolation. It’ll be fascinating to see how they interpret the game’s complex narrative for a different audience.
I totally see your point! The film could really explore the themes of connection and isolation in ways that the game hinted at but couldn’t fully develop. It’s exciting to think about how they might expand on the characters and their backstories too!
Absolutely! Those themes are so central to the game’s narrative. It’ll be interesting to see how the filmmakers interpret them in a cinematic context, especially since the world of Death Stranding is so rich with symbolism.
story will expand on those themes while introducing new characters. I’m curious to see how the filmmakers will balance the original game’s tone with fresh elements to keep it engaging for both fans and newcomers.
That sounds intriguing! Expanding on the themes of connection and isolation could really add depth to the original game’s narrative. I’m also interested to see how the new characters will interact with the established world and its lore.
Absolutely, exploring those themes further could provide a fresh perspective on the game’s narrative. It would be interesting to see how the film interprets the unique world-building that Hideo Kojima is known for. I’m curious about how they’ll translate the gameplay mechanics into a cinematic experience!
I completely agree! It’s exciting to think about how the movie might delve deeper into the unique concepts of connection and isolation that the game presents. A different medium could really highlight the emotional depth of those themes in new ways.
Absolutely! Exploring the unique connections between characters could really enhance the narrative. It’ll be interesting to see how the film interprets the themes of isolation and connection that are so central to the game.