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, emphasizing, “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 faithful to the game's themes, particularly avoiding clichés like "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe."
• Sony unveiled the Helldivers 2 movie, a Horizon Zero Dawn film, and a Ghost of Tsushima animation at CES 2025.

Democracy is set to hit the silver screen with the announcement of a new Helldivers 2 live-action movie from Sony. Arrowhead Game Studios, the creators of the beloved third-person shooter, will have a role in the film's development. During CES 2025, Sony also revealed plans for a Horizon Zero Dawn movie and a Ghost of Tsushima animation.

Helldivers 2, launched in February 2024, quickly gained popularity due to its intense combat against Terminids and Automatons, combined with its humorous camaraderie. As Arrowhead continues to update Helldivers 2 throughout 2025, the studio is also focusing on their next project, actively seeking community feedback to shape its early development stages.

Sony's announcement detailed the Helldivers 2 movie as a joint venture between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though further details were not disclosed by PlayStation Productions head Asad Qizilbash. Given the protective nature of the Helldivers community, fans have been vocal about wanting Arrowhead's involvement to preserve the game's essence in the film adaptation. Pilestedt addressed these concerns on Twitter, acknowledging the studio's limited but significant role, while stressing their lack of expertise in filmmaking.

The Helldivers community is passionate about maintaining the game's tone in the movie, hoping Arrowhead's input will keep the script, action, and aesthetic true to the source material. Fans have expressed fears that Hollywood might alter the narrative, such as introducing a "gamer wakes up in Helldivers universe" plotline, which they strongly oppose. There is a consensus that Arrowhead should have significant influence over the movie's script, themes, and visual style, with some fans insisting that the Helldivers should never remove their helmets on screen.

While the Helldivers 2 movie promises to be an action-packed cinematic experience, comparisons to the cult classic Starship Troopers have surfaced. This 1997 sci-fi film, directed by Paul Verhoeven and based on Robert A. Heinlein's novel, features a militaristic Earth-based federation at war with alien Arachnids. Fans hope the Helldivers 2 movie will distinguish itself, perhaps by steering away from the trope of insectoid aliens.