If there was ever a video game that could be summarized by the word “interesting,” it would be Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding. It’s one of the few games I truly enjoyed playing from beginning to end, but if someone was to ask me what it was about, why I enjoyed it, and if I would recommend it, I would simply respond with: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Which makes today’s announcement an interesting one, as A24 has confirmed its partnership with Kojima Productions to create a live-action feature film adaptation of Kojima’s Death Stranding.
The partnership is seemingly a perfect fit, given Kojima’s distinct creativity and A24’s impressive resume that includes Everything Everywhere All At Once. Though an indie studio, A24 excels in embracing out-of-the-box creativity like very few.
A statement on Kojima Productions’ website explains, “The film promises to delve into the mysteries surrounding the apocalyptic event called the ‘Death Stranding,’ which blurred the lines between life and death, and brought forth nightmarish creatures into a world on the brink of collapse.”
A24 was born into this world about 10 years ago, their presence is singular within the industry, they are like no other. The films they are delivering to the world are high in quality and very innovative. I have been attracted to their creations and they have even inspired my own work. Their innovative approach to storytelling aligns with what Kojima Productions has been doing for the last 8 years. Now, we are making a Death Stranding movie together. There are a lot of “game adaptation films” out there but what we are creating is not just a direct translation of the game. The intention is that our audience will not only be fans of the games, but our film will be for anyone who loves cinema. We are creating a Death Stranding universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born.
Hideo Kojima