Hideo Kojima Reveals He's Ready to 'Take On' Directing a Film — but Not Until PlayStation Game Physint Is Finished, and That'll Take 'Another 5 or 6 Years'

Hideo Kojima's highly anticipated spiritual successor to Metal Gear, Physint, remains a distant prospect, with a release timeline of "another five or six years" as per Kojima's own estimation. In a recent interview with Le Film Francais, Kojima shared insights into his career trajectory, emphasizing that his ambitions to direct a film are currently on hold until he completes this new "action espionage" game—his first major project in this genre since his notable departure from Konami in 2015.

Kojima revealed the abundance of offers he received since going independent, but his focus is firmly on the development of Physint and Death Stranding 2. "I've had so many offers since I left Konami, with serious conditions to develop games in my independent studio," he stated, translated by ResetEra member Red Kong XIX. He expressed a keen interest in eventually transitioning to film directing, viewing it as a homage to the cinema that shaped his youth. "But maybe after that, I could finally decide to take on a film," Kojima mused, adding a touch of urgency with, "I'm getting older, and I'd prefer to do it while I'm still young!"

The announcement of Physint came from PlayStation Studios boss Herman Hulst in January 2024, though details have been scarce since. Kojima initially hinted that Physint might blur the lines between game and film, later clarifying on X/Twitter that its elements like "look, story, theme, cast, acting, fashion, sound, etc… are all at the next level of 'Digital Entertainment' that could be called a 'movie.'"

Amidst these developments, Kojima Productions is juggling multiple projects, including Death Stranding 2 and the new IP OD, in collaboration with Xbox Game Studios, featuring actress Hunter Schafer and filmmaker Jordan Peele. Additionally, Kojima is involved in A24's film adaptation of the original Death Stranding.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is slated for release next month on June 26. In a recent interview with IGN, the franchise’s star, actor Norman Reedus, hinted at his potential involvement in the film adaptation, saying, "of course" he would play himself in the movie.

Kojima's creative vision extends beyond current projects; last week, he disclosed leaving behind a USB stick filled with game ideas for his team to explore posthumously. This revelation follows his sharing of various discarded concepts, including a unique 'Forgetting Game' where the protagonist's abilities and memories diminish if the player takes extended breaks.