'Helldivers 2' Devs Shouldn't Control Movie Plans

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

This cinematic venture is a joint effort between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures. While specifics remain scarce, Asad Qizilbash, head of PlayStation Productions, made the announcement at CES, expressing enthusiasm for the adaptation of the popular PlayStation title.

Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead, draws significant inspiration from the cult classic Starship Troopers, depicting futuristic soldiers defending a Super Earth regime against robotic Automatons and Terminid bugs, all under the banner of "Managed Democracy."

Anticipation for the film is high, but many questions remain unanswered. Arrowhead's CCO, Johan Pilestedt, addressed fan concerns regarding the developer's involvement in maintaining the game's integrity. While confirming Arrowhead will contribute, Pilestedt clarified they won't hold final creative control, acknowledging their lack of Hollywood experience. 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 over the readily available Starship Troopers IP is intriguing, leaving much to be seen regarding Sony's approach and the creative team they assemble. The project appears to be in its early stages, suggesting further details may be some time in coming.

Helldivers 2 boasts impressive sales figures, becoming the 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 revealed a Horizon Zero Dawn movie adaptation and an anime adaptation of Ghost of Tsushima, highlighting Sony's strong commitment to video game adaptations. This follows the success of HBO's The Last of Us, with Season 2 slated for an April release.