‘Death Stranding’: Hideo Kojima Aspires To See A24 Movie In Festival Circuit, Announces Anime Adaptation

We were thrilled when it was announced that Hideo Kojima of “Metal Gear Solid” fame and A24 are teaming for a feature film version of his massively successful post-apocalyptic video game “Death Stranding” with Michael Sarnoski (“Pig,” “A Quiet Place: Day One”) in the director’s chair. However, Kojima, being one of the more eccentric creatives from the video game industry, isn’t simply satisfied with a movie on the way as he’s hopeful it’ll end up in the film festival circuit once it’s completed.

Speaking with Vogue Japan (via Video Game Chronicles and Games Radar), after attending various Cannes Film Festival screenings this month, the video game auteur is talking up the ambitious idea of the live-action film from Sarnoski and A24 being good enough to head to Cannes or the Venice Film Festival while announcing that an anime project is also in the works alongside the movie.

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“I am currently working with A24 on a live-action film adaptation of Death Stranding,” Kojima told Vogue Japan. “When it comes to adapting games into visual media, there are works like ‘The Last of Us,’ which stays true to the original storyline, and films like ‘The Super Mario Bros Movie,’ which are more of a service to fans of the game.”

“While these works have their own merits, as a film enthusiast, I want to pursue the expressive potential of cinema. I aim to create a ‘Death Stranding’ that can only be realised through film, one that could win awards at festivals like the Cannes Film Festival or the Venice Film Festival. In fact, we are also currently working on an anime adaptation.”

Although it is unclear what animation studio is working on that anime project.

There has been an expectation that the feature film will see high-profile cast members such as Norman Reedus (“Ballerina”), Lea Seydoux (“No Time To Die”), Mads Mikkelsen (“Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”), Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”), and Troy Baker (played Joel in “The Last of Us” video games) asked to reprise their roles for the film adaptation.

Sam Porter Bridges (Reedus), a courier who must deliver supplies to remote colonies known as Knot Cities, which make up what is left of the United States of America, now known as the United Cities of America, and reconnect them via a wireless communications network.

The upcoming sequel “Death Stranding 2: On The Beach” could be further source material for a follow-up installment as the game features Elle Fanning as a new casting addition, who recently joined “Hunger Games: Sunrise of The Reaping,” and we’ll see her on the big screen this November in “Predator: Badlands.”

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Kojima’s aspirations for “Death Stranding” are impressive. Meanwhile, he’s still trying to get Sony Pictures to move on that “Metal Gear Solid” movie that had director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“Kong: Skull Island”) and Oscar Isaac (“Star Wars: The Force Awakens”) attached.