Death Stranding Movie Could Feature Familiar Characters Alongside Its New Cast

A42's live-action Death Stranding movie is beginning to take shape, with writer-director Michael Sarnoski revealing that the script is close to completion and has already been reviewed by Hideo Kojima.

Sarnoski, who previously directed Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One, shared an update on the adaptation during IGN Live 2026. While the movie will primarily tell an original story with its own characters, he also suggested that fans could see some familiar faces from Kojima Productions' games appear along the way.

Death Stranding Movie Script Is Close to Completion

Sarnoski said that he is currently working on the screenplay and hopes to finish it soon. A24 and Kojima have already read a draft, with the team now making revisions together before the project moves forward.

“I’m writing the script right now and hopefully almost done with it,” Sarnoski said. “I’m excited to dive in.”

According to the director, Kojima has given him considerable freedom to explore the world without requiring the movie to retell the story of Sam Porter Bridges or directly recreate the events of the game.

Sarnoski said the goal is to find his own corner of the Death Stranding universe while still producing something that feels authentic to the source material and rewarding for existing fans.

Hideo Kojima Recognised the Movie References in the Script

Kojima’s involvement appears to extend beyond simply approving the general direction of the adaptation.

Sarnoski said he was impressed by how quickly Kojima identified the cinematic influences woven into the script. One example was the 1985 anti-war film Come and See, a reference Kojima reportedly spotted without any explanation from the director.

Considering Kojima’s well-documented love of cinema, that probably should not come as a surprise. Still, it suggests that the two filmmakers are approaching the adaptation with a shared understanding of its tone and influences.

The Death Stranding Movie Will Introduce New Characters

The live-action Death Stranding movie is not expected to be a straightforward adaptation of either game. Instead, it will follow a new story set within the same universe.

Sarnoski compared the approach to his work on A Quiet Place: Day One, which allowed him to tell a separate story while operating within an established world. He said Death Stranding offers similarly broad themes that can be explored through a fresh group of characters.

Those themes include human connection, isolation and self-expression, all of which have been central to the games since the original Death Stranding launched in 2019.

The director said the movie should feel like a story that could be happening alongside the games rather than a direct retelling of them.

Familiar Death Stranding Characters Could Still Appear

Although the movie will focus on its own cast, Sarnoski left the door open for appearances from existing Death Stranding characters.

“You might see some characters from the game pop up,” he said.

That does not confirm whether Norman Reedus will return as Sam Porter Bridges or whether any other actors from the games will reprise their roles. However, it suggests that the film will not be completely disconnected from the wider series.

The decision to focus on original characters should also give the movie more room to work as a standalone story. Death Stranding is a dense and deliberately strange game, making a direct adaptation difficult to compress into a conventional feature-length film.

By exploring a parallel story, Sarnoski can retain the world, themes and atmosphere without trying to condense dozens of hours of story into a two-hour movie.

A24’s Death Stranding Movie Does Not Yet Have a Release Date

The Death Stranding movie was first announced in 2022, with A24 later joining Kojima Productions on the live-action adaptation. Sarnoski was confirmed as its writer and director in 2025.

There is currently no confirmed cast or officially announced release date for the movie. Sarnoski’s latest update suggests that the project remains in the scripting phase, although work appears to be progressing steadily.

Death Stranding has also expanded beyond the live-action adaptation. An animated movie titled Death Stranding: Mosquito is in development, while the game series continued with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.

FAQ

Who is directing the Death Stranding movie?

Michael Sarnoski, the filmmaker behind Pig and A Quiet Place: Day One, is writing and directing A24’s live-action Death Stranding movie.

Will Norman Reedus appear in the Death Stranding movie?

Norman Reedus has not been officially confirmed for the movie. Michael Sarnoski has said that some characters from the games could appear, but no specific returning characters have been announced.

Will the Death Stranding movie adapt the first game?

The movie will not directly retell the first Death Stranding game. It will follow a new set of characters in a parallel story set within the same universe.

Written by

Share

Copied