"Arrowhead Studios Discusses Helldivers 2 Movie Plans"

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt discussed the studio's involvement in the Helldivers 2 movie adaptation, stating, “We are not Hollywood people, and we don’t know what it takes to make a movie...and therefore we don’t, and shouldn’t, have final say.”
• Fans are hopeful that Arrowhead's involvement will ensure the Helldivers 2 movie remains faithful to the game's themes, avoiding clichés like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe."
• Sony announced the Helldivers 2 movie alongside a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima animation at CES 2025.

Democracy is set to hit the silver screen with the announcement of a new live-action Helldivers 2 movie from Sony, in collaboration with Arrowhead Game Studios, the creators of the popular shooter. During CES 2025, Sony also revealed plans for a Horizon Zero Dawn movie and a Ghost of Tsushima animation.

Helldivers 2, a cooperative third-person shooter, launched in February 2024 and quickly gained a following due to its intense combat against Terminids and Automatons, coupled with its humorous camaraderie. With the game's success, Arrowhead is already looking to the future, developing the next title to follow Helldivers 2. As updates continue into 2025 on Super Earth, CCO Johan Pilestedt emphasized the team's openness to community feedback during the early stages of their next project.

Sony confirmed the Helldivers 2 movie as a joint effort between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though head of PlayStation Productions, Asad Qizilbash, kept further details under wraps. Given the protective nature of the Helldivers community regarding the source material, fans have been eager to know if Arrowhead would be involved in the film's development. Pilestedt addressed this on Twitter, admitting he had been avoiding the question. He confirmed Arrowhead's involvement but stressed, “We are not Hollywood people, and we don’t know what it takes to make a movie...and therefore we don’t, and shouldn’t, have final say.”

Helldivers 2 Dev Touches on Arrowhead's Involvement in Movie Adaptation

Helldivers fans are passionate about ensuring the movie captures the right tone, advocating for Arrowhead's significant involvement to maintain the game's authenticity in terms of script and action. Community members on social media have voiced concerns over potential deviations by producers and writers, with a particular disdain for ideas like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe." Many believe Arrowhead should have the final say on the movie's script, theme, and aesthetic, and some fans feel it's crucial that the Helldivers never remove their helmets on screen.

While the prospect of a Helldivers 2 movie promises thrilling action, comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers, a 1997 sci-fi film directed by Paul Verhoeven based on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, are inevitable. The film focuses on a militaristic Earth-based United Citizen Federation at war with alien Arachnids. Fans hope the Helldivers 2 movie will distinguish itself from Starship Troopers, perhaps by steering away from the common trope of insectoid aliens.