Helldivers 2 Developers 'Don't, and Shouldn't, Have Final Say' on the Upcoming Movie

Sony's CES 2025 showcase unveiled surprising movie and TV adaptations, including a confirmed film based on the popular 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, announced the project at CES, 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, depicting future soldiers defending a fascist Super Earth regime against robotic Automatons and insect-like Terminids, all while upholding the ideals of "Managed Democracy."

Anticipation for the film adaptation has generated numerous fan questions, which both Sony and Arrowhead are currently unable to fully address. However, Arrowhead's CCO, Johan Pilestedt, responded to inquiries regarding the developer's involvement in ensuring the film's faithfulness to the game.

Pilestedt confirmed Arrowhead will have some input, acknowledging their lack of Hollywood experience and the wisdom of not holding final creative control. He stated, “I've been dodging this question…The short answer is yes. The long answer is that we'll see. 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 existing Starship Troopers franchise, is intriguing. The project appears to be in its early stages, suggesting further details may be some time in coming.

Helldivers 2 boasts remarkable success, achieving the title of fastest-selling PlayStation Studios game ever, with 12 million copies sold within 12 weeks. Its popularity has recently surged following the release of the highly anticipated Illuminate update, introducing a third playable faction.

Sony's CES 2025 presentation also included announcements of a Horizon Zero Dawn film adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima anime series. This demonstrates Sony's significant investment in video game adaptations, further highlighted by the upcoming April release of Season 2 of the acclaimed HBO series, The Last of Us.