Norman Reedus wants to return in Death Stranding, but the film remains uncertain

With the arrival of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach set for June 26, 2025 on PlayStation 5, actor Norman Reedus concluded his participation in the sequel developed by Kojima Productions. However, even with the new game completed, the actor expressed interest in continuing in the role of Sam Porter Bridges — now on the big screen — although he says he has not received any formal invitation.

“If it were an option, yes, no doubt. I don't know what's going on with it, right? It's so in pre-pre-production at the moment. But yes, yes, of course,” Reedus declared when asked about the possibility of starring in the film adaptation of Death Stranding.

The adaptation was officially announced in December 2022, and since then, updates have been minimal. The only confirmed name so far is that of director Michael Sarnoski, known for his work on A Quiet Place: Day One. The production will have direct involvement from Hideo Kojima, the franchise creator, but the cast has not been revealed yet, and the production remains in an embryonic stage, with no concrete dates or details.

Norman Reedus, known for his role in The Walking Dead, leads a renowned cast in the series' games, including Léa Seydoux, Mads Mikkelsen, Troy Baker, Elle Fanning, and Shioli Kutsuna. However, it is important to note that, so far, none of these names have been confirmed in the film adaptation.

The silence surrounding the project contrasts with the high level of creative control that Kojima usually maintains over his productions. In previous cases, such as with Metal Gear Solid, adaptations faced years of planning without significant progress. The situation of Death Stranding seems to follow a similar pattern, despite the franchise's commercial potential and strong aesthetic identity.

Since the release of the first Death Stranding in 2019, which sold over 10 million copies across all platforms, the franchise has stood out for its unique style, dense narrative, and innovative use of performance capture technology. These elements — directly associated with the face and performance of Reedus — make the lack of an official confirmation about his participation in the film a questionable decision at the very least.

While Death Stranding 2 approaches its release with new mechanics and promises to expand the story and world of the first game, the cinematic version still progresses slowly, with no clear sign of advancement.

Expectations are that, in the coming months, Kojima Productions and the responsible studios will provide more information about the film. For now, Reedus' interest is noted — but with no guarantees.