Death Stranding movie aims to capture the “soul” of the games, but will be its own original story – and even Hideo Kojima won’t be involved “too much”
By Bradley Russell
Copyright gamesradar
Skip to main content
Games Radar
Retro Gamer
Close main menu
GamesRadar+
The smarter take on movies
View Profile
Search GamesRadar+
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
Subscribe from just £3
Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
Try a single issue or save on a subscription
Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From£9.99Subscribe now
Best Netflix Movies
Best movies on Disney Plus
Movie Release Dates
Best Netflix Shows
Don’t miss these
Live Action Movies
A24 head wanted Hideo Kojima to helm their upcoming Death Stranding movie: “Are you sure you don’t want to direct?”
Action Games
Hideo Kojima clears up “misunderstanding” around Death Stranding 2, says cutscenes “are not pre-rendered, they’re basically all in real-time” and that’s been the case since Metal Gear Solid
Action Games
Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima says “DLC is not a trendy space because if you start doing that, you’ll never finish the project”
Action Games
Death Stranding 2 might’ve featured Twin Peaks mastermind David Lynch, as Hideo Kojima “always hoped to cast” the “director I’ve admired for so long”
Horror Games
After Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima says OD will be “something totally different” and fans will either “love it or hate it” – but the real verdict will come “10 or 20 years from now”
Open World Games
Hideo Kojima didn’t actually respond to Death Stranding 2 fan feedback by “deliberately” making it weirder, he only made it “more playable and fun”
Action Games
Hideo Kojima used “an AI machine learning rig” to painstakingly download his celebrity friends to Death Stranding 2, but he wasn’t happy with it: “I think I want to make it more realistic”
All upcoming Hideo Kojima games: Everything in development at Kojima Productions
Action Games
It’s no wonder Death Stranding 2’s hyper-realistic visuals are so good as Hideo Kojima shares behind-the-scenes footage from a “live-action lighting workshop” from over 2 years ago
Open World Games
Hideo Kojima says he’s already written a concept for Death Stranding 3, but he wants someone else to make it
Action Games
As Hideo Kojima celebrates Death Stranding 2’s release, he says “there were moments when I truly felt like we might never finish this game”
Action Games
Hideo Kojima altered certain Death Stranding 2 characters to better match their actors, which is why why Cliff and Fragile smoke and Higgs plays guitar
Action Games
I’m glad the heatwave is over, because if it wasn’t I’d think I hallucinated these weird Death Stranding 2 moments, from dancing dolls to sci-fi directors fighting while making pizza
Horror Games
Hideo Kojima’s OD: Everything we know so far
Action Games
Hideo Kojima says Death Stranding 2 references and Easter eggs aren’t simply “a self-homage,” but “more of a service to the fans who have been playing my games”
Entertainment
Sci-Fi Movies
Death Stranding
Death Stranding movie aims to capture the “soul” of the games, but will be its own original story – and even Hideo Kojima won’t be involved “too much”
Bradley Russell
23 September 2025
Director Michael Sarnoski has spoken about the Death Stranding movie during a recent Kojima Productions livestream
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Sony)
The upcoming live-action Death Stranding movie will be an original story set in the same world as the game universe created by Hideo Kojima.
“We really want to capture the soul of the game, capture the themes of the game, but tell a story you haven’t seen in that world and explore characters you haven’t seen before – and find all of that scope and all of those incredible real locations, but also find all of those nuances characters and do justice to this on a macro and micro scale,” writer-director Michael Sarnoski said during the Kojima Productions 10th Anniversary: Beyond the Strand livestream.
Sarnoski continued, “We’re finding another story in this universe that is both accessible to those who have never played the games before but also give something to those that know the games really well. I think finding that balance and finding a way to tell a really human story in this world that captures everything that we love about it is really the goal.”
You may like
A24 head wanted Hideo Kojima to helm their upcoming Death Stranding movie: “Are you sure you don’t want to direct?”
Hideo Kojima clears up “misunderstanding” around Death Stranding 2, says cutscenes “are not pre-rendered, they’re basically all in real-time” and that’s been the case since Metal Gear Solid
Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima says “DLC is not a trendy space because if you start doing that, you’ll never finish the project”
Kojima added that it was “essential” that the Death Stranding movie wouldn’t be a pared-back adaptation of either of the two games, noting that is why he wanted a writer-director to craft their own vision. To that end, he won’t get involved “too much” in the creative process.
Let’s hope Kojima mirrors his own response to gamer feedback, which he deliberately ignored in order to make Death Stranding 2 as weird as possible.
The Death Stranding movie, produced by A24, is currently undated and without a set cast, though director Michael Sarnoski has played both the first Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid in preparation for entering Kojima’s mind-melting universe, which sees the world fighting to reconnect after an apocalyptic event.
If you’re eager to find out more about its game sequel, we have guides on the Death Stranding 2 length, the full Death Stranding 2 cast, and the Death Stranding 2 tips we wish we had known before making our rounds.
For more, check out the other upcoming video game movies currently in the works.
See more Movies News
Bradley Russell
Social Links Navigation
I’m the Senior Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you’ll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
A24 head wanted Hideo Kojima to helm their upcoming Death Stranding movie: “Are you sure you don’t want to direct?”
Hideo Kojima clears up “misunderstanding” around Death Stranding 2, says cutscenes “are not pre-rendered, they’re basically all in real-time” and that’s been the case since Metal Gear Solid
Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima says “DLC is not a trendy space because if you start doing that, you’ll never finish the project”
Death Stranding 2 might’ve featured Twin Peaks mastermind David Lynch, as Hideo Kojima “always hoped to cast” the “director I’ve admired for so long”
After Death Stranding 2, Hideo Kojima says OD will be “something totally different” and fans will either “love it or hate it” – but the real verdict will come “10 or 20 years from now”
Hideo Kojima didn’t actually respond to Death Stranding 2 fan feedback by “deliberately” making it weirder, he only made it “more playable and fun”
Latest in Sci-Fi Movies
The first Mandalorian and Grogu synopsis teases our favorite duo will be up against “Imperial warlords”
The Mandalorian and Grogu trailer breakdown: Zeb, Anzellans, and 8 other Star Wars Easter eggs and details you might have missed
Ahead of the re-release I revisited Avatar: The Way of Water, and it’s much more than a technical marvel
Star Wars and One Battle After Another stars join “anime-inspired” sci-fi movie about a woman injected with superpowered slime
Star Wars returns to the big screen with the first Mandalorian & Grogu trailer, which features AT-AT action, Rotta the Hutt, and Sigourney Weaver
Deadpool and Wolverine director’s Star Wars movie Starfighter shares new look at Ryan Gosling “somewhere in the Mediterranean sea” as filming is underway
Latest in News
The Witcher season 4 will reportedly cost over $25 million per episode, making it one of Netflix’s most expensive projects behind Stranger Things season 4
Death Stranding movie aims to capture the “soul” of the games, but will be its own original story – and even Hideo Kojima won’t be involved “too much”
Hideo Kojima’s new horror game OD looks creepier than ever in a new trailer that manages to flex its hyper-realistic Unreal Engine visuals while making me scared of knocks on doors forever
Weapons director Zach Cregger confirms Aunt Gladys prequel is “real” and “not bulls**t” – “There’s a story and I’m pretty excited about it”
After Terraria, Palworld devs team up with another indie legend: FPS Ultrakill, and you’re not gonna believe this, it’s got guns: “Blood is fuel. Hell is full”
Nintendo devs were so obsessed with Konami’s legendary 1994 dating sim that they filled Super Mario 64’s code with references to it
GAME REVIEWS
MOVIE REVIEWS
Hotel Barcelona review: “Everywhere better roguelike games go right, this hotel-set horror goes left”
Silent Hill f review: “The legendary horror series’ most unsettling atmosphere and writing to date butts heads with combat that’s more irritating than scary”
Dying Light: The Beast review – “A playful sandbox of horror and mayhem with a surprising amount of depth”
Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds review: “Even more frantic than Mario Kart World, this has the mileage to be a karting favorite”
Lego Voyagers review: “A carefully crafted, playful, and earnest adventure”
One Battle After Another review: “One of the best studio movies in years and an instant classic”
The Conjuring: Last Rites review: “Not bold or memorable enough for the Warrens’ final chapter”
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle review: “Roars past Mugen Train as Demon Slayer’s best adventure yet”
The Long Walk review: “One of the best Stephen King adaptations ever made”
Frankenstein review: “A classy, if somewhat safe, adaptation”
Gen V season 2 review: “As strong as the first season, if not stronger”
Wednesday season 2 part 2 review: “Ortega shines, but it’s a zombie who steals the entire show”
Peacemaker season 2 review: “Darker and sadder than the first year, but there’s still a lot of fun to be had with the 11th Street Kids.”
Wednesday season 2 part 1 review: “Complex and exciting but weighed down by too many subplots”
Alien: Earth review: “Arguably the franchise’s strongest outing since James Cameron’s Aliens”
GamesRadar+ is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.
Contact Future’s experts
Terms and conditions
Privacy policy
Cookies policy
Advertise with us
Review guidelines
Write for us
Accessibility Statement
Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury,
BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.
Please login or signup to comment
Please wait…