The Death Stranding movie, an adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s supernatural UPS delivery guy walking simulator, has its director. A24 has announced that Michael Sarnoski will both direct and write the project. Sarnoski’s previous work includes directing the surprisingly stunning Nicolas Cage drama Pig and monster movie thriller A Quiet Place: Day One.
Death Stranding, released in 2019, tells the story of Sam Porter Bridges (voiced and performed by Norman Reedus), a porter tasked with ferrying packages across a devastated United States. Along the way he is assaulted by oily-looking monsters called BTs, rain that makes you old, and more conventional enemies including a terrorist sect led by a man named Higgs who is played by Troy Baker. The game went on to critical success, winning several Game Awards and netting Kojima an award for best direction. A sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been announced and launches June 26th.
The Death Stranding movie was announced in 2023. Kojima, an ardent lover of cinema, announced the feature-length production would be headed by A24 with a shirt featuring dripping letters similar to the logo for Death Stranding. A24, an independent production company, is known for championing quirky, weird, and downright disturbing films like Hereditary, Everything Everywhere, All at Once, and the forthcoming Death of a Unicorn.
Death Stranding, with its surrealist visuals and storytelling, feels like a good fit for Sarnoski.