In The Future, Hideo Kojima Says His Studio Will Make Films

For a guy who says that 70 per cent of his body is made of movies, this seems like it’s a long time coming.

In a 26-minute BBC documentary on the making-of Death Stranding, Hideo Kojima reveals the inevitability.

“In the future, Kojima Productions will also start making films,” Kojima said. “If a person can do one thing well, then they should be able to do anything well.

Kojima did not clarify as to when the studio will start making films. Kotaku reached out to Kojima Productions but did not hear prior to publication.

I think within the next three to four years, everything will move to streaming — games, movies, and TV shows.” We’re pretty much there with TV shows and movies.

“When that happens,” Kojima continues, “movies, TV shows, and games will be competing in the same space.” Kojima is interested in the type of entertainment that will inevitably arise from this competition.

Considering how long the cutscenes in Kojima’s games have been and how much he loves movies, it might seem odd that he hasn’t made a motion picture already.


    I... don't think this will end well. I mean MGS3 is one of my all time favourite games and MGS1 was one of the games that first got me into the medium at all but... Kojima just has no idea how to tell a story, and I say that even though I think MGS3's narrative is one of the best ever put into a game.

    His stories are so strange, and told in the most boring possible way (exposition dumps within flashbacks within mission briefings oh my!) and above all else he's always shown a propensity for obsessing over small details, jokes or pervy shots at the expense of pacing, narrative structure and even thematic integrity.

    MGS3 has one of my favourite narratives because for the whole game it isn't anything to be taken seriously, it's campy and ridiculous and utterly stupid so when it ends on a genuinely emotional and surprisingly personal moment it's sort of stunning.

    I guess I take it back, he could direct an excellent b-movie or James Bond rip-off, but I have a feeling that's not the sort of film he'd actually want or try to make.
    I just can't see this ending well.

      Your first sentence literally took the words out of my mouth

      Honestly, it's not like we don't see any of what you mention from the best producers and writers anyway.

      For me I think he tells great stories for games and he never tells just one.
      His work is always a deep reflection of our times, told through the often absurd game world and draped in the pagentry of the era it's set in.
      It might not always remain cohesive at all times but the ability to weave something like that at all is testament to his story telling abilities.

      I'm not surprised MGS3 is your favourite because that was prob one of the most successful examples of that layered style.
      A scathing commentary of modern US foreign interference, conflict manipulation and propaganda, told through the origin story of one of the franchises central characters and brilliantly wrapped up in the cinematic stylings of the 60's.

        Don't get me wrong, I actually think he has great ideas and often tries to pair them with others in interesting ways, but he doesn't know how to convey those ideas in interesting ways. If a movie started with a 15 minute mission briefing including multiple flashbacks within those 15 minutes I'd probably walk out. In a game I forgive it because I'm used to the terribly uninventive narratives of most titles, but in movies he'd be up against some serious talent that's rarely seen in videogame narratives, especially if he tries for an arthouse or indie style that his games would probably be more comfortable in.

        Also I've always felt he waffles on for 10 minutes where half a minute would suffice, and in films that's just not going to fly. Even if his philosophical ramblings were coherent, and they often aren't, they just don't need to be 30+ minutes long.

        For example the scathing commentary of modern US foreign interference is communicated pretty clearly within the first hour, but it keeps being brought up and wrapped in more and more metaphors and symbolism that eventually comes to weaken the message he started with. He doesn't always screw it up in this respect, reinforcing Naked Snake's sexism / discomfort around women repeatedly pays off wonderfully in the end of MGS3, but he's not consistently able to get those payoffs to work, and he's always afforded the stumbles and missteps that people forgive in most videogames.

      Yeah. I love his work and he has an amazing eye for visuals and general atmosphere but I don't think he's right for movies. That said I really want to see what he comes up with and I'll probably enjoy it.

    Id love to see a movie directed by Kojima. I love the story and lore in his games and they always keep me enthralled.

    I'd like to see a movie come out of Kojima's studio, after being heavily edited by someone who knows what they're doing. I don't mean that as a slight against Kojima, just that his specialty is coming up with ideas and he really needs someone else to tie them together in a way that is succinct and makes for an interesting experience.

      I wonder if having to work within the constraints of a 2 hour running time might actually lead to him creating his best work. I love the guy's games but they are self-indulgent to say the least. A bit of discipline might be exactly what he needs.

    Kojima, mate, speaking as someone who's seen the ending of MGS4, I think you already have.

    Yes please, collaborate with Neil Blomkamp.

    I think he would be better off with a mini series than a moive. lol

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