Game developer Hideo Kojima has revealed why he chose A24 Films to distribute the live-action adaptation of his Death Stranding video game. The highly acclaimed game has sold more than five million copies since its release in 2019.
In a recent interview with Civil War director Alex Garland, Kojima said he had been courted by other studios but was uncomfortable with their suggestions to turn it into an expensive movie that would be “exploding in a flashy way.”
“I don’t like that,” said Kojima. “I would like to make a slightly different movie with A24.”
Initially released In 2019 on Playstation 4, Kojima’s Death Stranding game is set in a dystopic world when Earth has been invaded by supernatural monsters. In the game, players assume the role of Sam Bridges (played by Norman Reedus), a courier who tries to reconnect humans via a wireless network. Others who were seen or heard in the game include actors Troy Baker, Mads Mikkelsen, Margaret Quailey, Léa Seydoux, and Lindsay Wagner, as well as filmmakers Nicholas Winding Refn and Guillermo del Toro.
When the collaborative film project was announced last year, Kojima Productions and A24 issued a joint statement that read in part: “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.”
At the time, Kojima noted that “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.”
Kojima emphasized that “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.”
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