Arrowhead Studios Discusses Helldivers 2 Film Project

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt has addressed 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 film remains true to the game's essence, expressing concerns over potential plotlines like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe."
• Sony unveiled the Helldivers 2 movie, along with a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima animation, at CES 2025.

Democracy is set to hit the big screen with Sony's announcement of a new live-action Helldivers 2 movie. Arrowhead Game Studios, the creators of the popular third-person co-op shooter, have had their involvement in the project clarified by CCO Johan Pilestedt. During CES 2025, Sony also revealed plans for a Horizon Zero Dawn film and a Ghost of Tsushima animation.

Helldivers 2, launched in February 2024, quickly gained a following for its intense battles against Terminids and Automatons, combined with its humorous camaraderie. As Arrowhead plans for the next game following Helldivers 2's success, the studio remains open to community feedback to shape early development stages. Updates are expected to continue throughout 2025 on the game's setting, Super Earth.

Sony's announcement highlighted that the Helldivers 2 movie is a joint venture between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though further details were scarce from Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions. 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 finally addressed these concerns on Twitter, admitting he had previously sidestepped the question. He confirmed Arrowhead's participation but emphasized their lack of expertise in filmmaking, 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.”

Helldivers 2 Dev Touches on Arrowhead's Involvement in Movie Adaptation

Helldivers enthusiasts are determined that the movie captures the right tone, advocating for Arrowhead's deep involvement to keep the film faithful to the game's spirit. Community members are wary of external creative influences that might deviate from the source material, with one Twitter user specifically rejecting the idea of a plot where a "gamer wakes up in the Helldivers universe." There's a strong consensus among fans that Arrowhead should have significant control over the script, theme, and aesthetic of the movie, with one fan insisting that the Helldivers should never remove their helmets on screen.

While the prospect of a Helldivers 2 movie promises an action-packed cinematic experience, it inevitably invites comparisons to the cult classic, Starship Troopers. Directed by Paul Verhoeven in 1997 and based on Robert A. Heinlein's 1959 novel, Starship Troopers features a militaristic Earth-based United Citizen Federation at war with alien Arachnids. Fans of Helldivers 2 hope the movie will distinguish itself from Starship Troopers, perhaps by avoiding the trope of insectoid aliens.