Hideo Kojima’s One Bold Choice Is What Will Keep The Death Stranding Adaptation From Suffering The Same Fate as Borderlands

When Hideo Kojima announced a Death Stranding movie adaptation in collaboration with A24, fans of the critically acclaimed game breathed a sigh of relief. Kojima, known for his cinematic storytelling and innovation in video games, is no stranger to the film industry. And he might’ve made a genius decision.

While other studios offered him the chance to turn Death Stranding into a typical Hollywood blockbuster, Kojima chose A24 to bring his vision to the screen. This bold decision may ensure that Death Stranding avoids the fate of other poorly received adaptations like Borderlands.

Hideo Kojima Seems To Be Cooking Up a Masterpiece

Kojima’s partnership with A24 is a bold move that reflects his desire to prioritize creativity and narrative depth over flashy spectacle. In a recent interview with Civil War director Alex Garland, via Famitsu, Kojima revealed that other studios offered him big-budget deals.

Other film companies that have approached me have offered me things like “make it a big budget and make it explode…”

But Kojima, known for his nuanced storytelling and complex characters, wanted something different. A24’s commitment to artistic freedom and unconventional storytelling aligns with Kojima’s vision for the project.

But I don’t want that. I want to make a slightly different movie with A24.

The studio, famous for offbeat and daring films like Everything Everywhere All at Once, is known for innovative and emotional stories. For Kojima, this was the perfect fit. He even jokingly remarked that A24 was “meant to be,” given that his birthday, August 24, shares the same number as the studio’s name.

The partnership between Kojima Productions and A24 promises a film that respects the game’s deep themes, such as connection and isolation, rather than diluting them into an action-heavy blockbuster.

Death Stranding Isn’t Even That Type Of Story Anyway

The decision to keep the budget in check was another key factor in Kojima’s choice. While it might be tempting to go all-in on visual effects and high-octane action sequences, Kojima expressed concern that even A24 might be tempted to expand the budget due to the success of Garland’s Civil War.

He mentioned wanting to avoid an overly large-scale project, stating,

I get the feeling that A24 is increasing the budget (for “Death Stranding”) and making it a larger-scale project, so we’re wondering how to contain that.

In sticking to his guns and focusing on narrative depth rather than size, Kojima ensures the film retains the core themes of Death Stranding, which are often introspective and personal.

Death Stranding does not need a high budget to work.

Kojima chose correctly.

— The Moonlight Warrior 🌙 (@BlackMajikMan90) September 25, 2024

For fans of Death Stranding, this choice seems to be exactly what they hoped for. The game’s unique mechanics and storylines are what made it stand out. Kojima’s insistence on maintaining creative control and avoiding the temptation to “go big” with explosions and spectacle speaks volumes about his dedication to his work.

Death Stranding is no ordinary video game, and its adaptation should not be ordinary either. The game’s central character, Sam Porter Bridges, is tasked with traversing a dystopian United States, reconnecting humanity through a series of isolated colonies.

This story is steeped in metaphor and emotion, emphasizing human connection in the face of isolation. Kojima’s emphasis on these themes aligns perfectly with A24’s track record of exploring human relationships in profound and often unsettling ways.

What do you think the upcoming adaptation will look like? Let us know in the comments!