Kojima Might Be Working On A Silent Hill Movie Reboot
Things aren't so silent over in Silent Hill, with smouldering embers finally crackling away beneath this tormented town. While most of us have given up hope on Konami reviving its horror favourite on console, the latest update gives hope to a Silent Hill movie reboot from Kojima Productions.
The Silent Hill games were once a staple of the survival horror genre and were a mainstay of the '00s gaming scene. However, as the franchise has faded into obscurity, there are worries we'll never reach the highs of 2001's Silent Hill 2. Sadly, the live-action movie series of the same name also failed to be the box office blockbuster it could've been.
What's The Kojima News?
We don't need to dredge up the past of Hideo Kojima's public split from Konami, what happened to the iconic P.T., or the fact most Konami franchises have been left to gather dust since. There's also no point going over the divisive reception of Kojima's Death Stranding or the rumours he could be jumping ship from Sony to Microsoft. Still, things are moving forward, with Kojima reportedly opening a division solely focussed on film, TV, and music (?).
According to GamesIndustry.biz, the division will be headed up by ex-PlayStation employee Riley Russell. "The new division will be tasked with working with creative and talented professionals in television, music and film, as well as the more familiar games industry, "said Russell. "The team has as its charter, the goal of expanding the reach and awareness of the properties now under development at Kojima Productions, and to make them even more a part of our popular culture. Although we are a global organization, the new business development team will be centred in Los Angeles, CA. We are truly excited and looking forward to working with the very best entertainment talent we can, across all of the entertainment industries."
Given that Kojima Productions is relatively new to the scene, there isn't much of a back catalogue to work on. A Death Stranding series with Norman Reedus would be an easy sell - if a little boring as a live-action version of FedEx. News that Kojima is opening his own branch dedicated to movies and TV might not be that exciting, but remember that he once helped dominate the market with Metal Gear, Castlevania, and Silent Hill.
Could A Silent Hill Movie Reboot Work?
By now, we've all given up on an official Silent Hill 3 from the team, so it's best to start from scratch. Let's be honest though, the 2006 movie and 2012's Silent Hill: Revelations we're that bad. While there's no official word that a Silent Hill reboot is being worked on by Kojima Productions, we've all heard the rumours before. There would be a sense of justice if the former franchise overseer launched a new Silent Hill game and a movie or series to accompany it.
We've already seen the runaway success of Netflix's Castlevania anime, and although the main series has come to an end after four short seasons, it's been dubbed a jumping-off point for a whole host of Castlevania canon. Fans know that a series focussing on Richter Belmont during the French Revolution is already on the way. Either way, there's plenty of Silent Hill lore to explore.
As for Silent Hill, we're still no closer to figuring out whether Sony's Abandoned is a secret Silent Hill or Metal Gear Solid game. The last we heard, multiple Silent Hill games could be in the works, with remasters and reboots regularly doing the rounds. Whatever form Silent Hill returns in, it's been nearly a decade since we last stepped into this realm of horror, so we'd say it's about time someone gave the franchise the kick up the backside it needs.