'Fast & Furious' Director Will Make 'Helldivers' Film — Script Written by 'It' and 'Annabelle' Author

Sony Pictures and PlayStation Productions are officially launching a Helldivers adaptation — and sitting in the director's chair is Justin Lin, the man who turned Fast & Furious into a billion-dollar franchise.

Lin will also serve as producer through his Perfect Storm Entertainment company. Joining him as producers are Hutch Parker, as well as Asad Qizilbash and Carter Swan from PlayStation Productions.

The film's screenplay was written by Gary Dauberman — author of horror films It, Annabelle, and several projects in The Conjuring cinematic universe.

Helldivers is considered one of PlayStation's most successful franchises: the first game received great critical love, and Helldivers 2 took the series to a new level and sold over 12 million copies in its first four months on PS5 and PC before coming to Xbox. The series is loved for its dark humor, team cooperation, and "starship troopers" vibe.

The film will tell about an elite squad of stormtroopers, Helldivers, who in the spirit of Starship Troopers fight alien threats — bugs, cyborgs, and the Illuminate race — defending the pseudo-democratic empire of "Super Earth." According to sources, Lin wants to "find humanity in the characters," strengthen relevant themes, and expand the world, instead of just remaking the game.

Interestingly, Lin doesn't play games — and he considers this an advantage. He intends to approach Helldivers as material that needs to be revealed dramatically, not just visually.

The project could become Lin's second major franchise at Sony: the director is still attached to the One-Punch Man adaptation, and is also working on adapting the BRZRKR comic for Netflix.

PlayStation Productions has been actively developing its IP in recent years: the studio already made Uncharted (with Tom Holland), and is also involved in Twisted Metal and The Last of Us. Now another major project appears in its portfolio — possibly one of the most spectacular.