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, avoiding concepts like a "gamer waking up in the Helldivers universe."
• 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, but Arrowhead Game Studios, the game's creators, have clarified their involvement. At CES 2025, Sony also revealed 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 camaraderie. Following its success, Arrowhead is developing their next game, and CCO Johan Pilestedt confirmed they are actively seeking community feedback to shape the early stages of development, with continued updates planned for Super Earth throughout 2025.

Sony announced the Helldivers 2 movie as a collaboration between Sony Productions and Sony Pictures, though details remain scarce. Given the community's strong attachment to the source material, fans questioned Arrowhead's involvement. Pilestedt addressed these concerns on Twitter, confirming their participation while acknowledging their lack of filmmaking expertise. He emphasized that Arrowhead wouldn't have final creative control over the movie.

Helldivers 2 Dev Addresses Arrowhead's Role in Film Adaptation

Helldivers fans are passionate about maintaining the game's tone and style in the movie adaptation, advocating for significant Arrowhead involvement to ensure script and action remain faithful to the source material. Concerns were raised on Twitter about producers potentially straying from the game's essence, with the idea of a "gamer waking up in the Helldivers universe" being met with disapproval. Many believe Arrowhead should have substantial input on the script, themes, and overall aesthetic, with some suggesting the Helldivers characters should never remove their helmets.

While the prospect of a Helldivers 2 movie is exciting, comparisons to Starship Troopers, a 1997 sci-fi action film, have been made. Fans hope Helldivers 2 will differentiate itself from this cult classic, perhaps by avoiding the common trope of insect-like alien antagonists.