Helldivers 2 Dev Arrowhead Addresses Upcoming Movie Adaptation

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt addressed the studio's role 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 hope Arrowhead's involvement will ensure the film stays true to the game's spirit, rejecting ideas like a "gamer wakes up in the Helldivers universe" plotline.
• Sony announced the Helldivers 2 movie, a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation, and a Ghost of Tsushima animation at CES 2025.

Democracy is coming to the big screen! Sony's announcement of a live-action Helldivers 2 movie has generated excitement, and Arrowhead Game Studios' CCO, Johan Pilestedt, has shed light on their involvement. This announcement, made at CES 2025, joined other Sony projects including a Horizon Zero Dawn movie adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima animation.

The co-op third-person shooter Helldivers 2, released in February 2024, quickly gained popularity for its intense combat against Terminids and Automatons, and its humorous camaraderie. Building on this success, Arrowhead is developing their next game, actively seeking community feedback during the early stages of development to shape the project. Updates for Helldivers 2 will continue throughout 2025.

Sony revealed the Helldivers 2 movie is a collaboration between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash offered few details. Given the community's strong attachment to the source material, fans questioned Arrowhead's role. Pilestedt, acknowledging previous evasiveness on the topic, confirmed the studio's participation but emphasized, "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 Addresses Arrowhead's Role in Film Adaptation

Helldivers fans are passionate about maintaining the game's tone, advocating for significant Arrowhead involvement to ensure script and action remain faithful. Concerns were voiced on Twitter about producers potentially straying from the source material, with the "gamer wakes up in the Helldivers universe" plotline specifically mentioned as undesirable. Many believe Arrowhead should have final say on the script, themes, and visual style, with some suggesting the Helldivers characters should never remove their helmets.

While the Helldivers 2 movie promises thrilling action, comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers have been made. This 1997 film, based on Robert A. Heinlein's novel, depicts a war between the United Citizen Federation and alien Arachnids. Helldivers fans hope the movie can differentiate itself, perhaps by avoiding the common trope of insectoid aliens.