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Death Stranding: The star-studded video game is getting a film adaptation from A24
Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Guillermo del Toro, Norman Reedus, Nicolas Winding Refn… Japanese game designer Hideo Kojima brought together a host of cinematic stars for his video game Death Stranding. They portray the characters in his futuristic universe, while players step into the shoes of Sam, a hero adrift in an apocalyptic world. The project is now headed to the big screen.
Death Stranding: A Game by Hideo Kojima
Sam roams a ravaged America in search of survivors. In this postmodern civilization, mysterious explosions triggered the “Death Stranding,” a supernatural phenomenon that wiped out everything in its path and awakened monstrous creatures known as the Beached Things. Riding his futuristic motorcycle, Sam traverses a dystopian world populated by cyborgs and connected fetuses, working to link up the last remaining survivors…
This might sound like a movie plot—but it’s actually the story of one of the most anticipated video games of 2019. The latest creation by visionary designer Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding boasted an all-star cast: Norman Reedus, of The Walking Dead fame, played Sam Porter Bridges. Along the way, he encounters Mads Mikkelsen (Pusher, Bleeder), director Guillermo Del Toro (The Shape of Water), actresses Margaret Qualley (The Leftovers) and Léa Seydoux (The Lobster), and Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive). All take on the roles of the game’s charismatic characters.
A sequel and a film adaptation in the works
In 2018, an extended trailer offered the first glimpse into the world of Death Stranding. This hyper-realistic open-world exploration game plunges players into an apocalyptic setting where they must connect with others to progress. It features truly asynchronous gameplay: players live and influence the game world simultaneously. The goal isn’t to defeat other players, but to exchange goods and share temporary shelters.
Often hailed as the Stanley Kubrick of video games, the Japanese designer has channeled his megalomaniac genius into the tenth art. A cinephile and music aficionado, Kojima joined Konami in 1986 but made a name for himself in 1998 with the stealth-action game Metal Gear Solid—the third entry in the Metal Gear series—on PlayStation. The game was celebrated for its 3D graphics and complex narrative.
It’s hard to ignore Kojima’s auteur streak—he often oversees every aspect of his games, from gameplay to character scripts and even the soundtrack. For Death Stranding, he chose the Icelandic band Low Roar, whom he discovered during a trip to Reykjavík. The melancholic melodies from their album 0 immediately captivated him, and he even promised a collector’s vinyl release bearing the Death Stranding name.
While a second installment of the video game is expected in June 2025, Deadline recently reported that Michael Sarnoski will write and direct the live-action adaptation, co-produced by A24, Kojima Productions, and Square Peg. Sarnoski is currently filming The Death of Robin Hood, a reimagining of the classic legend starring Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer. For now, no release date has been announced. Will the film feature the same cast as the game?
Death Stranding 2 by Hideo Kojima is set for release on June 26. The film’s release date remains unknown.
