Arrowhead Studios Discusses Helldivers 2 Movie Plans

Summary

• Arrowhead Game Studios CCO Johan Pilestedt discussed the studio's role in the upcoming 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 are eager for Arrowhead's involvement to ensure the movie remains true to the game's themes, expressing concerns about clichéd plotlines 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 animated series at CES 2025.

Following the announcement of a new Helldivers 2 live-action movie by Sony, Arrowhead Game Studios, the creators of the popular shooter, have clarified their involvement. During CES 2025, Sony also announced two other projects: a Horizon Zero Dawn movie and a Ghost of Tsushima animation.

Helldivers 2, a co-op third-person shooter released in February 2024, quickly gained popularity due to its intense combat against Terminids and Automatons, combined with its humorous camaraderie. Building on this success, Arrowhead is now focusing on their next project, while continuing to update Helldivers 2 throughout 2025. CCO Johan Pilestedt has expressed openness to community feedback to shape the upcoming game during its early development stages.

Sony confirmed that the Helldivers 2 movie is a joint effort between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though specifics remain under wraps, as noted by head of PlayStation Productions, Asad Qizilbash. Given the protective nature of the Helldivers community, fans have been vocal about wanting Arrowhead's involvement in the film's development. Pilestedt addressed this on Twitter, acknowledging his previous avoidance of the question and confirming Arrowhead's participation. However, he emphasized their limited 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."

The Helldivers community is passionate about maintaining the movie's fidelity to the game. Fans are particularly concerned about script integrity and thematic consistency, fearing that producers and writers might deviate from the source material. Suggestions like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe" are explicitly unwanted, with many fans advocating for Arrowhead to have the final say on the script, theme, and aesthetic. Additionally, there is a strong desire for the iconic Helldivers to keep their helmets on throughout the film.

While the Helldivers 2 movie promises an action-packed cinematic experience, comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers, a 1997 sci-fi film directed by Paul Verhoeven, have surfaced. Starship Troopers follows the United Citizen Federation in an interstellar war against alien Arachnids. Fans hope the Helldivers 2 movie will differentiate itself, perhaps by moving away from typical alien insect adversaries.