Hideo Kojima's "Death Stranding" Gets an Anime Adaptation

The Death Stranding universe is expanding.

Hideo Kojima, the famed video game developer behind the "Metal Gear Solid" franchise, announced that his latest independent video game series is receiving an anime adaptation.

In an interview with Vogue Japan, Kojima discussed the development of "Death Stranding 2: On the Beach", which continues the journey of Sam Porter Bridges, as played by The Walking Dead's Norman Reedus.

While talking about his ambitions for the live-action film adaptation by A24, Kojima also confirmed that an anime version was also in production.

"I am aiming to make Death Stranding in a way that can only be done as a film," he noted, "and that will win awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival. In fact, we are also currently working on an anime adaptation."

In September 2024, Kojima confirmed that multiple projects based on the Death Stranding franchise were in the works, following the announcement of the live-action movie.

"There are several Death Stranding adaptation projects currently underway, but there is a different story I've written that's intended for a movie," he said. "But I don't have the time to direct it, so I won't. Which is kind of like a test for the third phase. I'm in the second phase now and expanding the IP I made in all sorts of directions."

In April 2025, Michael Sarnoski, the filmmaker behind "A Quiet Place: Day One", was confirmed as the official director for the live-action adaptation of "Death Stranding", which is being produced by Kojima Productions and indie film studio A24.

Sarnoski is writing and directing the movie, which will reportedly delve deep into the "game’s mysteries surrounding the 'Death Stranding' — a catastrophic series of events that blurred the boundaries between the worlds of the living and the dead."

In the Vogue Japan interview, Kojima explained his vision for the live-action adaptation of "Death Stranding": "When it comes to film adaptations of games, there have been recent films like The Last of Us that keep the plot of the original intact, and films like The Super Mario Bros. Movie that are more like a service to game fans. Each of these works has its own merits, but as a film lover, I want to pursue expression as a film. I am aiming to make Death Stranding in a way that can only be done as a film, and that will win awards at the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival."

"Death Stranding 2: On the Beach" is scheduled for release on June 26, for the PlayStation 5. "Death Stranding Director's Cut" is currently available on PlayStation, PC and Xbox Series X/S.