It feels like eons since the Death Stranding film project was a glimmer in Hideo Kojima‘s eye. Still, according to a new report from Variety, the adaptation is well on its way to walking into cinemas. The outlet recently spoke with director Michael Sarnoski (Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One), who says he just turned in a second draft of the script with hopes to start shooting the movie next year in Iceland and Northern Ireland.
Interestingly, and likely a smart move, Sarnoski’s Death Stranding is expected to tell an original story set in the Death Stranding universe created by Hideo Kojima. However, Sarnoski says his version of the story includes “overlapping characters” from the games, so fans can expect to see some of their favorites from the game series.
Sarnoski on his Death Stranding script
“I want it to feel big, but also offbeat and character driven,” Sarnoski says. “This takes place in the world of the video game, but I have my own set of characters. There are some like overlapping characters that fans will be excited to see, but it’s very much my own story within this universe.”
What is Death Stranding?
Death Stranding was originally released in 2019 on PlayStation 4, where players control Sam Porter Bridges (Norman Reedus), a courier who delivers resources to isolated colonies and reconnects them via a wireless communications network. The film featured an all-star cast, including Mads Mikkelsen, Léa Seydoux, Margaret Qualley, and others, who also lent their likenesses to the characters. It is unclear whether any of the actors will appear in Sarnoski’s Death Stranding movie, but I would not be surprised if a few of them did.
Honestly, I’m relieved that Sarnoski is taking an “original” approach to Death Stranding. Anyone who’s played the games knows that the plot can get fairly cumbersome, and trying to adapt Kojima’s story for the silver screen feels like a fool’s errand. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but we’re better off with something fresh that harkens back to the games in one way or another.
Are you excited about Death Stranding getting a feature film adaptation? Which characters do you want to see in the new story? Let us know in the comments section below.
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