Earlier this fall, news dropped that A24 wanted to get into big IP in the near future. And the future is now: the indie studio will team up with Hideo Kojima for a live-action film of the acclaimed video game “Death Stranding.” This follows up news from almost exactly a year ago that Kojima Productions had a film adaptation of their game in the works. But collaborating with A24 is certainly newsworthy, since it marks a major transition for the studio.
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And given that “Death Stranding” already uses the likeness of Hollywood A-listers, it’ll be easy for A24 to cast their film. For those unfamiliar with the game, it features a cast including Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Guillermo del Toro, and Margaret Qualley. The game follows a protagonist named Sam Porter who explores a post-apocalyptic America after an event bends the boundaries between life and death, causing nightmarish creatures to seep into the real world. “Death Stranding” received rave reviews upon release in November 2019, the latest success in Kojima’s storied video game career.
Many consider Kojima a video game pioneer, innovating the industry in terms of interactive storytelling and cinematic presentation. And he couldn’t sound more excited to bring his latest franchise to the big screen. “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.”
But Kojima also teased that his “Death Stranding” film with A24 won’t be a straight adaptation. “There are a lot of ‘game adaptation films’ out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game,” he continued. “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.”
So what does that mean in terms of the video game’s cast? Will Reedus, Mikkelsen, and the like return as live-action versions of their “Death Stranding” characters? Or will Kojima and A24 go in a different direction entirely and create a story that follows an altogether different ensemble? Expect more news on this project soon.
