Arrowhead Studios Discusses Helldivers 2 Movie Plans

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt discussed the studio's role in the upcoming Helldivers 2 movie adaptation, acknowledging, “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 eager for Arrowhead's involvement to ensure the movie remains true to the game's themes and avoids clichés like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe."
• Sony unveiled the Helldivers 2 movie alongside a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima animation at CES 2025.

The world of Helldivers is set to leap from screens to the silver screen with the announcement of a new live-action movie adaptation of Helldivers 2 from Sony. Arrowhead Game Studios, the creators behind the popular co-op third-person shooter, have confirmed their involvement in the project. During CES 2025, Sony also revealed plans for a Horizon Zero Dawn movie and a Ghost of Tsushima animation, showcasing their continued push into film and television adaptations.

Helldivers 2, which launched in February 2024, quickly captured the gaming community's attention with its intense battles against Terminids and Automatons, coupled with its humorous camaraderie. The game's success has paved the way for Arrowhead's next project, with ongoing updates planned for 2025 on Super Earth. The studio remains open to community feedback to shape their future endeavors.

The Helldivers 2 movie is a joint effort between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though specifics remain under wraps, as noted by head of PlayStation Productions Asad Qizilbash. The Helldivers community has been vocal about their desire for Arrowhead's significant involvement to maintain the integrity of the source material. Johan Pilestedt, Arrowhead's CCO, addressed these concerns on Twitter, affirming the studio's participation but emphasizing their limited expertise in filmmaking.

Fans are passionate about preserving the essence of Helldivers in the movie, hoping to avoid common pitfalls such as the "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe" trope. They believe Arrowhead should have a strong influence over the script, theme, and aesthetic to ensure authenticity. One fan even suggested that the Helldivers should never remove their helmets, a detail crucial to the game's identity.

While the Helldivers 2 movie promises thrilling action, comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers have surfaced. Directed by Paul Verhoeven in 1997, this film adapts Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel and centers on a militaristic Earth-based society at war with alien Arachnids. Fans hope the Helldivers 2 adaptation will distinguish itself, perhaps by diverging from the typical insectoid alien antagonists.