Arrowhead Studios Discusses Helldivers 2 Movie Plans

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt has discussed the studio's role in the upcoming Helldivers 2 movie adaptation, emphasizing their limited expertise in filmmaking by 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.”
• The Helldivers community is eager for Arrowhead's involvement to ensure the movie remains true to the game's unique themes, with fans particularly opposed to clichéd plots like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe."
• Sony unveiled the Helldivers 2 movie alongside a Horizon Zero Dawn film adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima animation at CES 2025.

Democracy is set to make its mark on the big screen with the announcement of a live-action Helldivers 2 movie from Sony, in collaboration with Arrowhead Game Studios. This news came during CES 2025, where Sony also revealed plans for a Horizon Zero Dawn movie and a Ghost of Tsushima animated series.

Since its launch in February 2024, Helldivers 2 has captivated players with its intense third-person shooter gameplay, featuring battles against Terminids and Automatons, alongside humorous camaraderie. The game's success has spurred Arrowhead to begin work on a follow-up, with ongoing updates planned for 2025. CCO Johan Pilestedt has expressed the studio's openness to community feedback as they develop their next project.

Sony's announcement highlighted the movie as a joint effort between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though specifics remained scarce, according to head of PlayStation Productions Asad Qizilbash. Given the Helldivers community's dedication to the source material, fans have been vocal about wanting Arrowhead's involvement in the movie's development. Pilestedt addressed these concerns on Twitter, acknowledging his previous avoidance of the topic. He confirmed Arrowhead's participation but stressed their limited knowledge of filmmaking, saying, “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

The Helldivers community is passionate about maintaining the movie's fidelity to the game's tone and themes. Fans are advocating for Arrowhead's deep involvement to ensure the script and action sequences stay true to the original. On social media, players have expressed fears that the movie might stray from the source material, with one fan specifically citing the undesirable trope of a "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe." Many believe Arrowhead should have significant influence over the movie's script, themes, and visual style, with some fans even insisting that the iconic Helldivers should never remove their helmets.

While the prospect of a Helldivers 2 movie promises thrilling action on the big screen, it has drawn comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers. Directed by Paul Verhoeven in 1997 and based on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, Starship Troopers follows a militaristic Earth-based faction engaged in an interstellar war against alien Arachnids. Fans of Helldivers 2 hope the movie will distinguish itself from Starship Troopers, perhaps by avoiding the trope of insectoid aliens.