Sony Announces New Live-Action ‘Helldivers’ Video Game Movie

Humanity just took a strong step forward on the path to forced democracy, as a live-action Helldivers movie is now officially in the works. Sony has been hard at work developing and announcing brand-new projects based on their most beloved video gaming franchises. A new teaser for The Last of Us Season 2 dropped and a brand-new Ghost of Tsushima anime is happening, with Sony also unveiling a new live-action movie is in development, based on the bonkers sci-fi/action shoot ’em up, Helldivers.

Appearing at CES 2025 (via Collider) in Las Vegas, Nevada, head of PlayStation Productions, Asad Qizilbash, unveiled the new live-action movie. “Looking ahead as to what might come next,” Qizilbash began, “I’m excited to announce we are working with Sony Pictures on developing a film adaptation of our amazingly popular PlayStation game Helldivers 2.” No major details about the live-action Helldivers movie have been announced, other than that it is happening. The announcement comes as a more than welcome surprise to many. The first Helldivers game was released in 2015, and amassed a strong cult following. But, the series went mainstream in 2024 with the release of Helldivers 2.

The sequel broke the record for the fastest-selling game in PlayStation history, selling 12 million copies in 12 weeks. Set in the distant future, Helldivers 2 lets you play as one of the titular defenders of Super Earth, an American Dream-esque fascist colony that seeks to spread “forced democracy” to the yucky alien races that inhabit the other planets in the solar system. The entire narrative is tongue-in-cheek, as players team up for a variety of missions across the galaxy, fighting giant Starship Troopers-like alien bugs, killer robots reminiscent of Terminator, or the recently released, 28 Days Later-esque zombies.

What Could a ‘Helldivers’ Movie Look Like?

We never thought we’d say this, but give Michael Bay this movie. Helldivers 2 is like Team America World Police meets Starship Troopers. The gameplay balances the satirical humor with gigantic explosions as players spread democracy across the galaxy. What director is best known for making movies with giant robot aliens, loud explosions, and American flags? Michael Bay!

In all seriousness, Helldivers would make an unbelievably entertaining live-action movie. The games (especially the sequel) are filled with incredible action that would translate perfectly to the big screen, if done correctly. It would be interesting to see how a live-action movie tackles the plot. Helldivers 2 doesn’t have a succinct narrative. Instead, players jump between different, objective-based missions, with little other reason than spreading democracy. The closest players get to a plot is the opening tutorial, where you go through a quick rundown of the gameplay mechanics at a training base on Super Earth.

On the one hand, Helldivers could be a fun, ‘splosion-filled blockbuster movie. On the other, in the hands of the right director, there is the surprising potential for a scathing satire of America’s obsession with the military, and the nation’s overbearing ideals that it is the greatest nation in the world. After all, Super Earth is literally the USA blown up to a planet-sized scale. Imagine A24’s Civil War with orbital cannons and aliens.