Jason Momoa is exiting Sony’s Helldivers movie, ending his lead role in the video game adaptation just four months after his casting was announced in February 2026. The actor’s departure from the PlayStation Productions and Sony Pictures film was reported on June 8, but no reason was given for the exit.
The Helldivers film, directed by Justin Lin of the Fast & Furious franchise, remains on track for a November 10, 2027 theatrical release. Sony is currently searching for a new star to lead the project, according to Deadline and Variety.
Helldivers is a cooperative twin-stick shooter game that debuted in 2015. The franchise gained significant momentum with Helldivers 2, released in 2024, which sold more than 12 million units across PlayStation 5 and PC in its first four months and has since expanded to Xbox. The game follows an elite unit of soldiers known as Helldivers who battle alien threats to protect the fictional planet Super Earth.
Sony and PlayStation Productions have a track record with video game adaptations. The studio collaborated on 2022’s Uncharted, starring Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg, which earned $407 million globally. Sony-PlayStation also produced Peacock’s Twisted Metal series and HBO’s The Last of Us, both of which found critical success.
Plot details for the Helldivers film remain under wraps. Hutch Parker is producing alongside PlayStation Productions’ Asad Qizilbash and director Lin through Perfect Storm Entertainment. The film’s screenplay was written by Gary Dauberman, known for his work on the Annabelle franchise.
Momoa, who recently appeared in Dune: Part 3 as Duncan Idaho and voiced Lobo in Supergirl, has several projects in development, including a Minecraft movie sequel and the action film Street Fighter, where he plays the feral character Blanka.
Sources
- Deadline — Jason Momoa’s exit from Helldivers, reason unknown, Sony searching for new lead
- Variety — Confirmation of Momoa’s departure, film scheduled for November 10, 2027 release
- The Hollywood Reporter — Director Justin Lin attached to Helldivers project
