A second Death Stranding movie is already in development. Created by Hideo Kojima, the 2019 video game is set in a post-apocalyptic United States overrun by ᴅᴇᴀᴅly creatures and follows a courier who delivers supplies to isolated colonies and works to reconnect them through a wireless communication network. In December 2022, a live-action Death Stranding movie was announced, and in the following years, the studio A24 and director Michael Sarnoski (Pig, A Quiet Place: Day One) came aboard the project, which is being planned for a 2027 release.

Now, a second adaptation is already in development. According to ᴅᴇᴀᴅline, an animated Death Stranding movie is also in the works, with the screenplay being written by Aaron Guzikowski, whose credits include the HBO Max sci-fi series Raised by Wolves. The animated film will feature an original story set in the Death Stranding universe, taking place after a series of devastating global explosions that cause a mysterious link between the living and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. Guzikowski shared the following statement:

I love the world of Death Stranding, it’s so creatively freeing, so beautifully dark and yet hopeful; I’m so excited and honored 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. Drawing and animation have always been near and dear to my heart, so to finally get to play in this space is a dream come true.

What The Death Stranding Animated Movie Means

They Have Hopes Of Becoming A Film Franchise

While Death Stranding is already a successful video game, with a sequel on the way, the fact that there are two movie adaptations in development, one live-action and one animated, means that Hideo Kojima and company are confident that it can become a full-fledged film franchise. Kojima Productions and Line Mileage, who are behind the animated movie, say it will be similar in style to adult-oriented animated movies like Predator: Killer of Killers, which premiered this month on Hulu, and the recently announced John Wick animated prequel.

Predator and John Wick are notable comparisons since they are both big film franchises, which Death Stranding seemingly has hopes of becoming. A sequel video game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, is set for release in just over a week on June 26. Perhaps if both the live-action and animated movies are successful, though they probably won’t be released for years, the sequel video game will be the next movie adaptation that enters development, fulfilling their hopes of becoming a full-fledged film franchise.

Our Take On The Death Stranding Animated Movie

It’s A Dream Project For Many

Death Stranding has often been praised for pushing the boundaries of emotional storytelling in video games, making Aaron Guzikowski, known for his powerful character-driven narratives like Denis Villeneuve’s Prisoners, a fitting choice to write the animated adaptation. Given the game’s already cinematic nature, it’s a natural fit for both live-action and animated movie adaptations. With Guzikowski on board, the Death Stranding animated movie is shaping up to be a dream project for many.

Source: ᴅᴇᴀᴅline