MOVIE NEWS – Hideo Kojima continues to expand the Death Stranding universe beyond video games. He launched the original Death Stranding in 2019 and followed up with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach in June 2025. Although Kojima has said he does not plan to direct a third installment himself and would prefer another filmmaker to take the reins, he remains involved in two film projects. A24’s live-action Death Stranding movie is still in early pre-production, while Hiroshi Miyamoto’s animated feature is progressing steadily.

The project, provisionally titled Death Stranding Mosquito, was announced at Kojima Productions’ “Beyond the Strand” tenth anniversary event. The year 2025 marks ten years since Kojima left Konami, founded his own studio, and released Death Stranding. The event revealed OD, a horror collaboration with Jordan Peele, and concept art for the stealth title Physint. The standout reveal, however, was the Mosquito trailer — an animated film set in the Death Stranding world, apparently separate from the main narrative.

The trailer depicts two porters engaged in a fierce battle across open terrain; one of them protects a B.T. (Beached Thing), traditionally an enemy that players are expected to defeat. Death Stranding Mosquito explores new facets of Kojima’s universe, focusing on interactions not previously shown in the games.

“Death Stranding Mosquito” Brings Fresh Perspectives to the Franchise

The animation chooses a vivid, painterly aesthetic rather than the games’ photorealism, giving the film a distinctive visual identity. Hideo Kojima is credited as producer, and Hiroshi Miyamoto directs; Miyamoto’s credits include work on Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero and numerous anime storyboard contributions. The trailer’s choreography stands out, presenting combat between porters unlike anything seen in the game entries.

Kojima’s works are layered with deep lore and socio-political subtext, making it intriguing to see how another creator interprets the sandbox he built in 2019. The first trailer hints at an unexpected relationship between a porter and a B.T., a novelty for longtime fans. The screenplay is by Aaron Guzikowski, known for Raised by Wolves.

Source: MovieWeb