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The best-selling, artistically challenging video game Death Stranding is headed to the big screen, with the help of its auteur-creator, Hideo Kojima.
Indie studio A24 is developing a feature based on the 2019 video game, which was hailed as one of the most cinematic games of all time. It was also notable as an example of A-list actors embracing the genre, with Norman Reedus starring as Sam Porter, a man navigating a world torn apart by a cataclysm. Other stars included Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Guillermo del Toro and Margaret Qualley.
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No castings or other creative news is known about the film version. According to A24, “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.”
Kojima is one of the gaming industry’s most celebrated creators, with his work known for pushing boundaries of the medium. After decades at Konami, which included work on Metal Gear, he split with the gaming studio in 2015 with his Kojima Productions becoming an independent entity.
“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,” said Kojima in a statement. “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.”
The game debuted in 2019 and sold 16 million copies for Playstation 4, Playstation 5 and PC. The Death Stranding development comes at the end of a banner year for gaming adaptations. Super Mario Bros. earned $1.36 billion globally, making it one of the top-grossing films of the year, while on the small screen, HBO’s The Last of Us became a prestige TV breakout and Emmy contender.
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