The release rate of movies and television shows based on video games has been steadily increasing in recent years. Sony already has multiple adaptation projects under its wing, such as Uncharted, The Last of Us, and Twisted Metal. Now, it looks like Helldivers is getting its turn. The Sony-published action franchise from Arrowhead Game Studios has seen massive success, especially with the second entry from 2024.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Helldivers is becoming a movie under Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions. The biggest reveal of the project is that Justin Lin will be directing it, a name that will be familiar to Fast and Furious fans.
Lin entered the Fast and Furious movie franchise with Tokyo Drift in 2006. He then went on to direct Fast & Furious (2009), Fast Five (2011), Fast & Furious 6 (2013), and F9 (2023) in the series. He is also the director behind 2016"s Star Trek Beyond. He is also working with Sony Pictures for a live-action film adaptation of One-Punch Man.
Despite not having experience with gaming, Lin had pitched the Helldivers movie idea to Sony, hoping to give his own take on the over-the-top and humorous universe. He is reportedly aiming to find the "humanity in the characters and weave timely themes" in the storyline. It"s unclear if this will become a standard action movie experience with serious tones or a more tongue-in-cheek adaptation.
Meanwhile, it"s said that the writer responsible for It and the Annabelle horror films, Gary Dauberman, is in charge of the Helldivers script.
Helldivers 2 was a breakout hit across PlayStation and PC in 2024, selling over a million copies in its first week, and it"s estimated to have sold almost 20 million copies so far. The game even broke exclusivity barriers and headed over to Xbox consoles earlier this year.