A24’s Death Stranding Movie Will Tell an Original Story Set in Kojima’s Universe

Kojima Productions used its 10th anniversary event, Beyond the Strand, to share a significant update on its long-anticipated film project with A24. The Death Stranding movie will not adapt the events of the game directly, but instead carve out its own space with an entirely original story set in the same universe. The decision places the adaptation firmly in the realm of expansion rather than recreation, offering something new for audiences familiar with Sam Porter Bridges, Fragile, and the enigmatic world they inhabit.

The announcement came during a live celebration held in Tokyo, marking a decade of Kojima Productions and coinciding with the anniversary of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Hideo Kojima hosted the event, joined by filmmaker Michael Sarnoski, known for A Quiet Place: Day One, who is attached to direct the live-action project.

Sarnoski emphasized that the film is designed to honor the thematic DNA of the original game while branching into new narrative territory.

"I think, with this project, we really want to capture the soul of the game, capture the themes of the game, but tell a story you haven’t seen in that world and explore characters you haven’t seen before, and find all of that scope and all of those incredible real locations, but also find all of those nuanced characters and just do justice to this on a macro and micro scale," Sarnoski said on stage.

Kojima himself will not direct the film, but he made clear that his presence will be strongly felt. The developer confirmed he is “deeply involved” in production, ensuring the distinctive tone and layered symbolism that have defined his work will carry into the adaptation. For long-time followers of Kojima’s projects, that involvement may provide reassurance that the movie will not simply carry the Death Stranding name but embody its spirit.

The announcements did not stop there. Alongside A24’s live-action film, Kojima Productions revealed a second screen project: an animated feature currently titled Mosquito. The animation is also set in the Death Stranding universe, but, like the film, will tell an original story. Written by Aaron Guzikowski, creator of Raised by Wolves and writer of Prisoners, the project introduces new characters and concepts, including one with the unsettling ability to take something vital from others, metaphorically compared to a mosquito taking blood.

"I love the world of Death Stranding, it's so creatively freeing, so beautifully dark and yet hopeful; I'm so excited and honoured that Hideo Kojima, whose work I've long admired, has invited me to dwell within his creation, to birth new stories into this fertile, mind-bending universe," Guzikowski stated.

The dual announcements underscore the flexibility of the Death Stranding setting. With its focus on fractured societies, unseen dangers, and fragile human connections, the universe offers a fertile platform for original storytelling. It also demonstrates that Kojima Productions is not merely maintaining the franchise through games but actively building it across media.

The 10th anniversary event highlighted the studio’s broader slate of upcoming projects. Beyond Death Stranding’s expansion into film and animation, Kojima continues work on OD, an experimental Xbox-exclusive horror title first revealed in 2023, and Physint, a project described as a return to action-espionage roots reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid. Kojima admitted that Physint is still in early development, with much of the initial work being carried out by himself. Meanwhile, he has confirmed the existence of a concept for a third Death Stranding game but stated he will not personally direct it.

Death Stranding’s leap into cinema through A24 represents a notable collaboration between one of the most distinct names in gaming and a studio acclaimed for its unconventional storytelling in film. Both the live-action project and Mosquito stand as fresh interpretations, not recreations, designed to explore uncharted corners of Kojima’s universe.

With Kojima Productions showing no signs of slowing down and with projects spanning multiple genres and media, the future of the studio is broadening rapidly. The anniversary event demonstrated that while new ventures like OD and Physint are on the horizon, Death Stranding remains central to the identity of Kojima Productions. Whether in interactive form or cinematic expression, the series continues to evolve.

Fans eager for more insight into the film or the animated feature will likely have to wait for further reveals, as details remain sparse. What has been made clear is that both projects intend to preserve the essence of Death Stranding while offering stories distinct from the journeys players have already experienced. The anniversary marked a celebration of the studio’s past, but more importantly, it set the stage for how Kojima Productions plans to expand its creative worlds over the coming decade.