The director of the upcoming live-action "Death Stranding" film states it will "tell a story you haven't seen in that world"

According to director Michael Sarnoski, the upcoming live-action Death Stranding film by A24 will feature a unique narrative within the familiar universe. During the Beyond the Strand 10th anniversary event on September 23, 2025, Sarnoski appeared alongside Kojima and A24's co-head Sam Hanson to discuss the film adaptation.

Sarnoski, who previously directed A Quiet Place: Day One, expressed the gravity of undertaking such a significant project. "At first, joining this project was a major honor. The scale was daunting, particularly after working on A Quiet Place," he remarked. However, conversations with Kojima and A24 made him realize the creative latitude he would have.

The film will chart an original course, retaining the video game's essence while introducing new characters and stories. "Our goal is to capture the game's spirit and themes but narrate a fresh story within that universe. It should be approachable for newcomers and gratifying for fans of the game," Sarnoski explained.

Hideo Kojima noted the challenge of compressing the original game, which takes 70 to 80 hours to complete, into a short film. "It was crucial to create a distinct story for the film. I sought someone with the writing and directing ability, and I plan to step back from excessive involvement, trusting Michael to handle it," Kojima added.

Additionally, Kojima presented the first glimpse of the animated Death Stranding movie, currently titled Death Stranding: Mosquito. The animation, led by Hiroshi Miyamoto of ABC Animation Studio, features a protagonist with unique, non-blood-sucking abilities, hinting at the film's central theme.

The anniversary event also unveiled Kojima Productions' collaboration with Niantic Spatial on an augmented reality project, shared a teaser for the new 'Knock' subtitled game OD, and revealed posters and cast members of the upcoming stealth game Physint.