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Michael Sarnoski, whose unobtrusive but moving feature debut was Pig and will next star in A Quiet Place: Day One, will pen and direct A24 and Kojima Productions’ live-action feature adaptation of Death Stranding. The project is produced by Square Peg, with Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen on board as well.
The adaptation marks a bold new direction for A24, known for its indie and arthouse sensibilities, stepping into the world of high-concept video game storytelling. Hideo Kojima, the creator of Death Stranding, announced the collaboration alongside Sarnoski’s involvement, calling A24 “the only studio able to adapt this world.” The film promises to build on the game’s rich mythology while offering something new, rather than simply retelling the original story.
Initially launched in 2019, Death Stranding captivated over 19 million gamers globally. Set in a broken, post-apocalyptic America, the game follows Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, as he transports goods to reunite isolated colonies following a mysterious occurrence known as the “Death Stranding” that broke the boundary between life and death. Supernatural beings roam the landscape, and humanity teeters on the brink of extinction. The game married sophisticated emotional storytelling to next-generation gameplay and boasted an A-list voice cast including Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Guillermo del Toro, and Margaret Qualley.
Kojima has explained that the movie will not be a faithful adaptation. Instead, it will expand the game universe and its concepts, introducing fresh characters and storylines especially designed for film. “We want to establish a Death Stranding universe on its own that coexists harmoniously with the games,” he explained.
Sarnoski, already well into postproduction on Hugh Jackman and Jodie Comer’s The Death of Robin Hood, is an excellent choice. His track record of handling emotionally complex characters in dreamlike or high-stress situations primes him for Kojima’s unconventional and cerebral universe.
This report arrives as part of a surge of Death Stranding franchise reveals. Kojima Productions just announced the release date of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, set to come out June 26, and hinted at a worldwide concert tour and high-end watch partnership with Hamilton.
With a top-shelf creative team, rich narrative world, and studio that has a track record of making artsy gambles, the Death Stranding movie can break the curse of video game film adaptations and be something completely unique.
