Death Stranding Movie Gets Update as Director Scouts Beautiful Filming Locations in Iceland

The Death Stranding movie appears to be ramping up to production, as director Michael Sarnoski and cinematographer Pat Scola recently shared a beautiful view from location scouting.

Death Stranding director Michael Sarnoski is currently in Iceland scouting for locations that can be used for the film. He shared a selfie of himself wearing a Death Stranding T-shirt and also reposted a video from his cinematographer, Pat Scola, showcasing gorgeous Icelandic scenery featuring waterfalls and plenty of moss. It is a pretty breathtaking view, and one that perfectly replicates the kind of landscape you'd find in Death Stranding, albeit with a bit more sun.

Whether or not this exact location will be used in the film remains to be seen, but it does show that the creative team behind the film understands the game's aesthetic. It's also great to see that they're going to be shooting on location, instead of relying exclusively on soundstages and CG backdrops. Sarnoski revealed earlier this summer that he plans to shoot the Death Stranding film next year in Iceland and Northern Ireland .

Director Michael Sarnoski is on a location scout in Iceland for the #DeathStranding film produced by A24 and Square Peg — NV (@naven0m) October 6, 2026

Director Michael Sarnoski is on a location scout in Iceland for the #DeathStranding film produced by A24 and Square Peg

Sarnoski's Death Stranding will be a new, original story set within the world of the game. It has the full backing and involvement of series creator Hideo Kojima and will be produced in conjunction with A24. As a result, you can expect a new cast of characters, but Sarnoski has teased that familiar faces from the games may appear, as well . The film also comes at an interesting time, as Kojima has said he's uninterested in helming a third Death Stranding game , but would let someone else make it based on a concept he created. He's finding other ways to flesh out the world through both this film and other media, including an anime.

There's currently no release date for the Death Stranding film, but a 2028 release date may not be out of the question depending on when it starts shooting next year. Cast details are also currently under wraps, but with production ramping up, we will presumably hear more on that front soon. Norman Reedus has already expressed interest in reprising his role as Sam Porter Bridges in the film , but his involvement has yet to be announced.

Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN's news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.