Death Stranding Film Producer Teases Exciting Updates Amid SAG

Sep 13, 2023

Death Stranding’s cinematic journey takes an uplifting turn.

The gaming masterpiece, Death Stranding, by the famed Hideo Kojima of the Metal Gear Solid legacy, is now set for its much-anticipated movie adaptation.

Hollywood is no stranger to tumultuous times. With the present actors' and writers' strike, the industry seems to be at a standstill, but projects like Death Stranding refuse to dim their light amidst the gloom.

To recap for those who haven't donned the gaming gloves in a while, the 2019 Death Stranding game thrust players into a post-apocalyptic future where they step into the boots of Sam Porter Bridges, delivering parcels in a world overrun by ethereal creatures titled "beached things" (BTs) and the MULE cultists. This entrancing narrative boasted a power-packed star ensemble including Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, and Léa Seydoux. Given its critical acclaim and commercial success, it wasn't a shocker when murmurs of a sequel and a cinematic rendition began circulating.

Now, amid an industry slowdown, Allan Ungar, the producer behind the movie, has stepped forward to shed some light on its development. While discussing his new thriller with Nicolas Cage titled Sympathy for the Devil, in an interview with Screen Rant, the topic of the Death Stranding movie naturally surfaced. Despite the pressing concerns and industry interruptions brought by the strikes, Ungar exuded a palpable enthusiasm for the project. In a tantalizing tidbit, he hinted at some "very exciting news" on the horizon, also underscoring that Kojima is intimately involved in the journey, ensuring authenticity at every bend. Ungar stated,

"Yeah, no, listen, this is an incredibly, incredibly important undertaking for [Kojima]. This is his baby, this is the first time that he went out on his own as an independent studio, and made a game, and that game became critically acclaimed, it became very prolific. Unfortunately, due to the strike, and due to sort of everything that's happening in our industry right now, I can't say as much as I'd like to, other than there's going to be some very exciting news coming up soon, and we're incredibly excited about the direction that we're taking it in. I think it's going to be an incredible surprise, not just for video game fans, but for moviegoing fans, and audiences in general, who I don't think have seen anything quite like this before."

Ungar was asked if Kojima was involved in the creative process of the film and he responded,

Every step of the way.

RELATED: Death Stranding Film Being Guided at Every Turn by Its Creator Hideo Kojima

Many expected a grand movie unveiling at the San Diego Comic-Con, leading to widespread speculation. But like several other studios, Hammerstone Studios, which is backing the project, chose discretion over valor, skipping the event. Kojima's own posts on Twitter, showcasing behind-the-scenes from an LED Volume set, added more fuel to the speculative fires. While most fans deciphered this as a sneak peek into Death Stranding 2, a few hopefuls envisioned it as a glimpse of the movie's production.

Let's pull the handbrake for a moment and consider the timeline. The movie's formal development started just seven months ago. We can't help but draw similarities to Kojima's Metal Gear Solid film project, which experienced numerous setbacks over its twenty-year development. In 2014, Jordan Vogt-Roberts of Kong: Skull Island fame was roped in as the director, and by 2020, Oscar Isaac was pegged to play Solid Snake. Yet, the movie's status remains uncertain.

Drawing a contrast, Death Stranding, with its singular title and an uncluttered backstory, might have offered a clearer roadmap for Ungar, Kojima, and the Hammerstone team. Their collaborative efforts seem to be driving the 2019 title's transition to the silver screen at an accelerated pace.

But what provides the true comfort to fans and cinephiles alike? Ungar's unwavering affirmation that the mastermind Kojima is in the driver's seat, guiding the project meticulously. Given Kojima's track record and Ungar's confidence, the cinematic odyssey of Death Stranding is not just promising but could mark a defining moment in game-to-film adaptations.

Ali Valle is a freelance entertainment and lifestyle writer. When not writing, you may find her at rock music gigs or probably traveling to cities across the world.