Death Stranding is getting a movie adaptation, which, if you've played it, you'll find odd because it's already the most film-like game to ever exist. It's being produced by A24 with A Quiet Place: Day One director Michael Sarnoski set to helm the project, and Hideo Kojima has already given him his seal of approval.
As translated and shared online by Genki, Kojima spoke about the movie on Koji10, his radio show. Genki's translations state that Sarnoski is "smart, has good taste, and is a very nice person, so is happy he can direct the film." Also, the director "doesn't seem like a typical Hollywood person" and has played Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid 1, but Kojima stopped him from playing 2 and 3.
Hideo Kojima says the Death Stranding live-action film with A24 will be an unbelievable and strange film! via @koji10_tbs He says Director Michael Sarnoski is smart, has good taste and is a very nice person so is happy he can direct the film. He says Michael properly played… pic.twitter.com/pJXH3kMfMPApril 22, 2025
It is unclear why Kojima would stop the director from playing those games. It could be that he wants the director to have his own take on the work rather than simply trying to emulate Kojima himself. If so, that's quite a big leap of faith and a huge compliment. Or, it could just be that the movie-loving Kojima wants to see someone else's interpretation because he could learn from it or appreciate it differently.
Obviously, playing Death Stranding feels like a no-brainer, and Metal Gear Solid is a good way to get into the mind of Kojima and understand how he sees the world. Maybe the Metal Gear games are just too different from Death Stranding, and Kojima didn't want the director to be influenced into a more action-heavy style?
In the meantime, check out everything we know about Death Stranding 2.
