It was almost exactly one year ago that famed video game creator Hideo Kojima revealed plans to turn his latest “game”, Death Stranding, into a feature film. Well, that project just took a big, and surprising, step forward as A24 has joined Kojima in making the adaptation a reality.
The thing about Kojima is that he’s a true innovator, having built the very cinematic Metal Gear franchise. Kojima’s games are basically movies that you can play, and often feature A-list stars. In Death Stranding, you control Sam Porter Bridges, a character portrayed by Norman Reedus, while the cast includes Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, Nicolas Winding Refn, Guillermo del Toro, Troy Baker, Tommie Earl Jenkins, and Lindsay Wagner.
The plot of Death Stranding finds you as a courier in a post-apocalyptic America besieged by invisible creatures with a link to the afterlife.
At last week’s Game Awards, Kojima revealed that he is working with Jordan Peele on a horror game/movie, OD, featuring Udo Kier, Sophia Lillis, and Hunter Schafer.
While none of this news about Kojima gets me personally excited since I think his games are artsy junk lacking in fun, maybe that’ll change in the movie realm. It’s clear that Kojima really wants to be a filmmaker, so let’s see him finally do it.
The partnership with A24 can only help Kojima as he moves to become a major Hollywood player.
“A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other,” Kojima said in a press statement. “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.”
Kojima also said not to expect the film to be a straight adaptation of the game.
“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.” [Deadline]
