Arrowhead Games Devs Discuss Helldivers 2 Movie Input

Sony's CES 2025 showcase surprised attendees with several film and TV adaptations of its popular video game titles. Among the announcements was an official movie adaptation of the acclaimed PlayStation game, Helldivers 2.

This cinematic venture is a joint effort between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures. While specifics remain scarce, Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, confirmed the project during the CES presentation, stating their collaboration with Sony Pictures to bring the "amazingly popular" Helldivers 2 to the big screen.

Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead Games, draws significant inspiration from the cult classic Starship Troopers, portraying futuristic soldiers defending a fascist Super Earth regime against alien threats.

Fans are eager for details, but Sony and Arrowhead remain tight-lipped. However, Arrowhead's CCO, Johan Pilestedt, addressed concerns about the game's faithfulness in the film adaptation. While confirming Arrowhead's involvement, he clarified their role wouldn't extend to full creative control, acknowledging their lack of Hollywood experience. He stated, "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.”

The choice of Helldivers 2 for adaptation, especially considering the pre-existing Starship Troopers franchise, is intriguing. The project appears to be in its early stages, suggesting further announcements may be some time away.

Helldivers 2's remarkable success, achieving 12 million copies sold within 12 weeks, solidifies its position as the fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever. Its popularity has recently surged following the release of the highly anticipated Illuminate update, introducing a new faction for players to combat.

Sony's CES 2025 announcements also included a film adaptation of Guerrilla Games' Horizon Zero Dawn and an anime adaptation of Sucker Punch Productions' Ghost of Tsushima. This aggressive push into video game adaptations complements the upcoming April release of Season 2 of HBO's successful The Last of Us series.