Hideo Kojima Says He’ll “Guide” the DEATH STRANDING Movie, but Knows When to Step Back: “I Have to Trust These People”

As the live-action film adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s wildly unique game Death Stranding moves forward at A24, the legendary developer made it clear he’s not looking to hover over every creative decision. Instead, he’s choosing a more measured, collaborative role. Kojima told Variety:

“I think I will help produce it – I need to kind of guide the project – but I can’t direct it myself, schedule-wise. I made Death Stranding as a game, so in order to turn it into a movie, it'll be something totally different.”

That creative distance doesn’t mean he’s uninvolved. He’s still keeping an eye on things, but with respect for the talent he’s brought on board.

“But it's my baby, so I would like to overlook the project. I'm teaming up with A24 and Michael Sarnoski, so he will be writing and directing.

“I'll let them work on it without too much of my input, because that might get in their way. I don't want to go in and ask them to make a bunch of changes; that's not cool. I have to trust these people, and I trust A24 and Michael.”

That trust is likely well-placed. Sarnoski, who directed Pig, has not only shown he can handle emotionally rich, unconventional stories, but he’s also reportedly played Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid 1, though Kojima deliberately asked him not to touch the MGS sequels. Why? Likely to keep his vision for the adaptation untainted by deeper lore or unnecessary comparisons.

This isn’t the only Death Stranding adaptation in the works either. An anime film is also in development, with Prisoners and Raised by Wolves writer Aaron Guzikowski onboard. Guzikowski said:

“I love the world of Death Stranding, it's so creatively freeing, so beautifully dark and yet hopeful; I'm so excited and honored that Hideo Kojima, whose work I've long admired, has invited me to dwell within his creation, to birth new stories into this fertile, mind-bending universe. Drawing and animation have always been near and dear to my heart, so to finally get to play in this space is a dream come true.”

There’s no release date yet for the movie, but if Kojima’s history tells us anything, it’s that we’re in for something unorthodox and very human. Whether through anime or live-action, Death Stranding is finding new ways to connect.