Bridging Worlds: Kojima Productions Reveals New Details on ‘Death Stranding’ Live-Action and Animated Films

The cinematic future of the Death Stranding universe is rapidly expanding, as Kojima Productions provided significant updates on both its live-action movie with A24 and its newly revealed animated film at the recent “Beyond The Strand” 10th-anniversary event. These projects confirm Hideo Kojima’s commitment to translating his unique brand of immersive storytelling across various high-value media platforms, securing a strong foothold in the competitive entertainment industry.

The A24 Live-Action Film: An Original Story to Capture the ‘Soul’

The much-anticipated live-action adaptation in partnership with independent film powerhouse A24 will not be a direct retelling of Sam Porter Bridges’ journey from the game. Instead, director Michael Sarnoski (A Quiet Place: Day One, Pig) confirmed that the film will feature an original story with new characters and locations set within the lore of the chiral network and the Death Stranding event.

• Focus on Theme and Character: Sarnoski stated the goal is to “capture the soul of the game, capture the themes of the game,” but to deliver a narrative “you haven’t seen in that world.” This strategy allows the film to appeal to both loyal fans and newcomers, a critical factor for success in the video game-to-film adaptation market.
• Kojima’s Producer Role: Hideo Kojima explained the decision to pursue an original plot by noting the game’s length (70-80 hours), which is impossible to “slim down to a two-hour movie.” He is serving as a producer, entrusting Sarnoski with full creative control over the new story to ensure it stands as its own artistic creation. This deep involvement by the original creator while delegating the directorship is a key reassurance for investors and fans focused on creative integrity and quality content.
• Platform and Release: While details remain scarce, the collaboration with A24, known for high-quality, genre-bending cinema, suggests a focus on prestige film distribution. The project is currently targeting a 2027 release window. The blend of A24’s cinematic weight and the game’s global appeal positions this as a major event in the entertainment business and a potential high-return investment.

‘Death Stranding: Mosquito’ – An Animated Expansion

In addition to the live-action project, Kojima Productions unveiled a first look at an animated film with the working title, Death Stranding: Mosquito. This parallel production further highlights the studio’s ambition to build a sprawling, interconnected universe across different media, diversifying its revenue streams in the gaming and film industries.

• Key Creative Team: The animated film is being directed by Hiroshi Miyamoto of ABC Animation Studio and written by Aaron Guzikowski (Prisoners, Raised by Wolves). Guzikowski’s involvement, known for dark, complex narratives, is a strong indicator of the film’s serious tone and thematic depth.
• Intriguing New Character: The working title, Mosquito, is a direct hint at the main character, described by Kojima and Miyamoto as someone with the ability to “suck something” that is not blood, a mysterious new element within the Death Stranding lore. Early footage showed an original character engaged in a tense brawl with a porter, suggesting a high-action narrative that explores the darker corners of the post-apocalyptic world.
• Visual Style and Quality: The animation utilizes a blend of hand-drawn linework and digital assembly, a technique that promises to translate the game’s distinctive aesthetic—its blend of vast, real-world environments and unsettling supernatural elements—into a high-fidelity animated style. Studio Easter, known for their background work on popular anime like Dandadan, is handling the environments, further guaranteeing a premium production value.

These two projects demonstrate a meticulously planned strategy to expand the Death Stranding IP far beyond its video game roots. By ensuring both films tell original, yet thematically resonant, stories, Kojima is safeguarding the integrity of the game narrative while opening up vast, new opportunities for global audiences and high-level investment in the franchise’s multimedia future.