The highly anticipated live-action film adaptation of Death Stranding, currently slated to be directed by Michael Sarnoski, was initially offered to the visionary game creator Hideo Kojima himself. Noah Sacco, head of films at A24, disclosed in a recent interview with The New Yorker that he had directly approached Kojima about taking on the directorial role.
“Are you sure you don`t want to direct?” Sacco recounted asking Kojima. While the specifics of their conversation were not detailed, it is clear that Kojima ultimately declined the offer, paving the way for Sarnoski to lead the project.
Michael Sarnoski has gained recognition for his work, including directing the acclaimed Nicolas Cage film Pig and the upcoming 2024 movie A Quiet Place: Day One. Beyond Death Stranding, he is also attached to direct The Death of Robin Hood, which will star Hugh Jackman. For the Death Stranding movie, Sarnoski is not only directing but also handling the screenplay. Although Kojima will not be directing or writing, his company, Kojima Productions, is playing a key role as a producer of the film.
Kojima has previously shared insights into the film`s vision, stating that it will not be “just a direct translation of the game.” Instead, the movie aims to captivate both dedicated fans of the game series and a broader audience with a love for cinema.
The production remains in its nascent stages, with no official announcements concerning the cast or a specific release date. However, Norman Reedus, who famously portrays the protagonist Sam Porter Bridges in the Death Stranding games, has publicly expressed his interest in reprising his role for the movie. Additionally, an animated Death Stranding film is also in development, further expanding the franchise`s universe.
In the gaming realm, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launched in June. While Kojima has conceived ideas for a potential Death Stranding 3, he does not plan to personally develop it. His current focus in game development includes other projects such as OD and Physint.
A24 is also involved in producing another major video game adaptation: the Elden Ring movie, directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Alex Garland. Sacco highlighted Garland`s immense enthusiasm for the project, noting that he presented a comprehensive 160-page script draft along with an additional 40 pages of imagery. Garland`s response when asked to direct the Elden Ring film was an emphatic “F**k yeah,” according to Sacco.