By now, most fans know that Death Stranding is expanding outside of video games and it getting a feature film adaptation. Hideo Kojima’s trippy post-apocalyptic universe is heading to the big screen with a film adaptation being developed by A24.
But, if you’re wondering whether Norman Reedus is coming along for the ride… well, he’s just as curious as the rest of us. Reedus told IGN when asked if he’d reprise his role as Sam Porter Bridges:
“If it was an option, yeah, for sure. I don’t know what’s happening with it, right? It’s so pre…pre-pre [production] right now. But yeah, yeah, of course!”
Reedus has become the face of Death Stranding since the game’s original release in 2019. The role of Sam, a weary but determined courier reconnecting the remnants of humanity in a fractured America, has become one of his most iconic performances outside The Walking Dead.
He’s returning as Sam for Death Stranding 2, which drops this June, but when it comes to the movie, even he’s still waiting for his briefing.
The Death Stranding film is being helmed by A Quiet Place: Day One director Michael Sarnoski, with Kojima deeply involved in the process. Kojima has admitted that adapting Death Stranding into a two-hour movie is no small feat. He said:
“It’s easier to adapt it into a TV series, like The Last of Us. It’s quite difficult to adapt a 50-60 hour game like Death Stranding into a 2-3 hour movie.”
And yet, Kojima remains optimistic. He’s said the movie won’t be a direct adaptation, but something stranger and more cinematic.
“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.”
In true Kojima fashion, he’s already thinking beyond the script.
“We are creating a Death Stranding universe that has never been seen before, achievable only through the medium of film, it will be born. A24’s nnovative approach aligns with what Kojima Productions has been building for years.
Kojima says he wants the movie to feel “indie and artistic – something that can win awards at film festivals like Cannes, Venice or Sundance.” That vision may surprise those expecting a blockbuster-style adaptation, but it fits perfectly with Death Stranding’s surreal, genre-blending tone.
It also speaks to the broader shift in video game adaptations.
“In the past, film adaptations of video games always failed… But in the last 4-5 years, people who understand games have taken on the task of adapting it into a film or drama. Several hits have been made, like [The Super Mario Bros. Movie]. That’s the trend these days.”
So while the Death Stranding movie is still in its early stages, we know that Reedus is in if they want him. And with A24 and Kojima at the helm, this could be one of the most ambitious video game movies yet.
It seems like it would be a stupid choice not to cast Reedus in the movie, but we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out.
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