Are you ready, Solid Snake fans? Metal Gear Solid may finally be headed to the big screen. THR reports that Sony Pictures has set Final Destination Bloodlines duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein to direct an adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s stealth action video game, and one of the most successful long-running franchises in history.
What a year it’s been for Lipovsky and Stein. Before Final Destination Bloodlines became a $300M hit last year, the duo were mainly known for the 2018 indie horror, Freaks. Now they not only have Metal Gear Solid, one of the most anticipated video game movies ever, but also an animated Venom movie in the works for Sony. They also wrote the script for the new Gremlins movie, so these guys are super busy.
I still recall playing the first Metal Gear game in 1987 on my NES. Since then, the franchise has blossomed with 17 total games and millions of copies sold. Vol. 2 of the Metal Gear Solid Master Collection will be released in August. Solid Snake has become so popular that he’s appeared in other companies’ titles, including Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros.
You may recall that Sony has been trying to get this film off the ground for years. The most recent attempt had Oscar Isaac set to play Solid Snake, with Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer) as director. That version fell through.
Lipovsky and Stein released a statement on the Metal Gear Solid news: “”Metal Gear Solid” was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionized video games. We are thrilled and honored to bring Hideo Kojima’s iconic characters and unforgettable world to life.”
Another Kojima game headed to the big screen is Death Stranding, with Michael Sarnoski (A Quiet Place: Day One) directing for A24.
