Helldivers 2 Dev Arrowhead Addresses Upcoming Movie Adaptation

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt addressed the studio's role in the Helldivers 2 movie adaptation, 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."
• Fans hope Arrowhead's involvement will ensure the film stays true to the game's spirit, rejecting ideas like a "gamer wakes up in the Helldivers universe" plotline.
• Sony announced the Helldivers 2 movie, a Horizon Zero Dawn adaptation, and a Ghost of Tsushima animation at CES 2025.

Democracy is coming to the big screen! Sony's announcement of a live-action Helldivers 2 movie has excited fans, and Arrowhead Game Studios' CCO, Johan Pilestedt, has shed light on the studio's participation. This announcement, made at CES 2025, accompanied similar projects: a Horizon Zero Dawn movie adaptation and a Ghost of Tsushima animation.

The co-op third-person shooter Helldivers 2, released in February 2024, quickly gained popularity for its intense combat against Terminids and Automatons, and its humorous cooperative gameplay. Following its success, and while continuing to update Helldivers 2 throughout 2025, Arrowhead is already working on its next project. Pilestedt emphasized the studio's openness to community feedback during the early development stages.

Sony revealed the Helldivers 2 film is a collaboration between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash offered few details. Given the community's strong attachment to the source material, fans eagerly sought Arrowhead's involvement. Pilestedt, after previously avoiding the question, confirmed the studio's participation but clarified their limitations: "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 Addresses Arrowhead's Role in Film Adaptation

Helldivers fans are passionate about capturing the game's essence on screen. To achieve this, they strongly advocate for significant Arrowhead involvement to ensure script and action remain faithful to the game's tone. Concerns were raised on Twitter about producers potentially straying from the source material, with one suggestion—a "gamer wakes up in the Helldivers universe"—prompting widespread disapproval. Many believe Arrowhead should have considerable input into the script, themes, and overall aesthetic, with some even suggesting the iconic helmets should never come off.

While a Helldivers 2 movie promises thrilling cinematic action, comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers have emerged. This 1997 film, based on Robert A. Heinlein's novel, depicts a war against alien Arachnids. Helldivers fans hope the adaptation can distinguish itself from Starship Troopers, perhaps by avoiding the common trope of insectoid aliens.