Last week, Kojima Productions announced that a sequel to their highly successful 2019 videogame “Death Stranding” is in development. Now, this week, more news, but on the cinematic front: Kojima will team up with Hammerstone Studios for a film adaptation of the game. And audiences have good reason to be excited because “Death Stranding” already features an ensemble cast that includes some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
READ MORE: ‘Gran Turismo’: David Harbour To Star In Neill Blomkamp’s Video Game Film
In “Death Stranding,” players control Sam Bridges, played by Norman Reedus, as they navigate a fractured world after a cataclysmic event opens a portal between the living and the dead. Other cast members include Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, and Guillermo del Toro. Troy Baker, Tommie Earl Jenkins, and Lindsay Wagner also star in the game.
But will any of those actors appear in the upcoming movie adaptation? No word on that yet. Right now, the big news is Hideo Kojima‘s team-up with Alex Lebovici‘s Hammerstone Studios for the upcoming film. Lebovici is fresh off the surprise critical hit horror flick “Barbarian” with Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgard, and Justin Long and last year’s “Bill & Ted Face The Music.” Upcoming films Lebovici co-produces include “Boy Kills World,” also with Skarsbag, and a feature adaptation of the short “Kung Fury” with Michael Fassbender and Arnold Schwarzeneggar. He also co-produces the upcoming “Sympathy For The Devil,” starring Nicolas Cage and Joel Kinnaman.
“I couldn’t be more excited about this new partnership with Hammerstone Studios,” said Hideo Kojima in a press release. “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 had a comment of his own. “We are thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to partner with brilliant and iconic Hideo Kojima on his first film adaptation,” he said. “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.”
No word on a timeline for a release date for “Death Stranding,” but expect news about Reedus, Mikkelsen, Seydoux, and others starring in the film adaptation too.
