A24’s Death Stranding Movie is Taking the Only Route That Makes Any Sense

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2019’s *Death Stranding* was Hideo Kojima’s first game released after forming a new studio following his departure from Konami. As you’d expect from such a renowned game designer, *Death Stranding* was a very unique and experimental title, clearly showcasing Kojima’s creative style. While opinions varied, fans mostly enjoyed it. The sequel, *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*, came out this summer and was even more popular, refining some of the original game’s issues and continuing the story.

On September 23rd, Kojima Productions celebrated its 10th anniversary with a presentation called “Beyond The Strand.” The event offered a look at the studio’s future projects, including more details about the upcoming *Death Stranding* movie. This film will be a full-length, live-action adaptation produced by A24, and early glimpses suggest it will build upon and maximize the potential of the *Death Stranding* story and world.

A new animated movie called *Death Stranding: Mosquito* is also being made, in addition to the live-action film with A24.

A24’s Death Stranding Film Adaptation Telling a New Story in the Universe is the Smartest Path It Could Follow

Death Stranding and DS2: On the Beach’s Stories Are Already Similar

Hideo Kojima is famous for creating immersive and unusual game worlds filled with interesting, well-developed characters. His stories often explore powerful themes and emotions, and he cleverly integrates these ideas into how the games are played. This is certainly the case with Sam Porter Bridges’ adventure in *Death Stranding*, which was a strange, challenging, and ultimately rewarding experience.

Sam is working to rebuild connections between the broken United States and a mysterious network, and through this process, he learns important things about himself and the people he encounters. This continues in *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach*, where he’s tasked with the same mission in Mexico and Australia. However, because the two games share similar themes, a direct adaptation of Sam’s journey would have felt redundant. Fortunately, the movie appears to be taking a different path, exploring new storylines and characters.

Why A24’s Death Stranding Film Being an All-New Tale is the Perfect Move

In 2023, it was officially announced that a movie adaptation of *Death Stranding* is in the works. Hideo Kojima will produce, and Michael Sarnoski, the director of *A Quiet Place: Day One*, will direct. Sarnoski has shared his vision for how the film will be made, saying:

Our goal with this project is to truly embody the spirit and core ideas of the game, while also crafting a fresh story and introducing new characters that players haven’t encountered before.

This is a great direction for a movie, because the world of *Death Stranding* still has so much potential. It’s a detailed and interesting setting with plenty of stories yet to be told, and the film will build upon what we already know. Instead of simply retelling the events of the games, the movie will expand the universe and show us brand new sides of it, which is exciting for fans.

Hideo Kojima’s next game, currently called *OG: Knock*, will be a horror title created in collaboration with filmmaker Jordan Peele.

Kojima often features his friends and colleagues, such as director Guillermo del Toro, in his work. The upcoming movie might include nods to or appearances by characters we already know. However, focusing on a new story is a smart move, as it allows the world of *Death Stranding* to expand and potentially reveal or hint at answers to its many mysteries. The world is so detailed and unique that telling a fresh story for the live-action adaptation feels like the best approach.

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2025-09-23 20:40