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

Sony's CES 2025 showcase surprised attendees with several film and TV adaptations of its popular PlayStation games, including the official announcement of a Helldivers 2 movie.

This cinematic venture is a joint production between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures. While specifics remain scarce, Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, confirmed the project during the CES presentation, stating, "Looking ahead, I'm thrilled to announce we're collaborating with Sony Pictures on a film adaptation of our incredibly popular PlayStation game, Helldivers 2."

Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead, draws significant inspiration from the cult classic Starship Troopers, depicting futuristic soldiers defending a totalitarian Super Earth regime against robotic Automatons and insectoid Terminids, all while upholding the principles of "Managed Democracy."

The announcement has naturally sparked numerous fan queries, many of which remain unanswered by Sony and Arrowhead. However, Arrowhead's CCO, Johan Pilestedt, addressed a question on X/Twitter regarding the developer's involvement in ensuring the film's faithfulness to the game.

Pilestedt admitted to previously evading the question but confirmed Arrowhead will have some input. He clarified, however, that the team won't hold final creative control, a decision he believes is appropriate, stating, “I've been dodging this question. The short answer is yes [we'll be involved]. The long answer is 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 for adaptation, especially considering the existence of Starship Troopers, is intriguing. The project appears to be in its nascent stages, suggesting further details may not emerge for some time.

Helldivers 2 boasts impressive sales figures, 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 antagonistic faction.

Sony's CES 2025 presentation also revealed a Horizon Zero Dawn movie adaptation and an anime adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima, highlighting the company's commitment to video game adaptations. This follows the success of The Last of Us, with Season 2 slated for an April release.