Despite having seen no shortage of video game to film adaptations within our lifetime, there have been some glaring omissions when it comes to top franchises that have yet to make their way to the silver screen. Being a huge fan of the stealth action genre, I can’t help but lament the developmental hell that both Metal Gear Solid and Splinter Cell have had to endure for what seems like an eternity. Now, I could probably complain about this all day, but at least we’re now seeing some movement when it comes to the former.
Granted, I’m still placing this in the “I’ll believe it when I see it” category, but director Jordan Vogt-Roberts can at least credit himself with starting off my day in a positive way. Having been attached to Solid Snake’s cinematic debut since 2014, it’s probably safe to say that he’s more frustrated than any of us, but his recent success with Kong: Skull Island has apparently afforded him more clout in Hollywood. Thus, Sony is willing to take another look at this Metal Gear Solid jazz.
As you’re no doubt aware, not all video game movies have been entirely great, but Vogt-Roberts seems to be bringing a lot of passion to the project. Here’s what he had to say when speaking with Den of Geek on the topic of getting it right:
“It’s something that I chased. I chased after that years ago. I put together a bible, I put together like a 60-page book breaking down what Metal Gear is, how video game adaptations have failed, and the difference between the active experience of playing a game and the passive experience of watching a movie. How you translate Metal Gear, how you protect it.”
To be frank, MGS will be one of the trickier properties to adapt to this medium. Anyone even remotely familiar with the series is aware of its lengthy cutscenes, so it stands to reason that the studio will need to give Vogt-Roberts and his crew enough breathing room to tell the proper story. And, apparently, it sounds like he’s on the right track.
“Right now what we’re trying to write is the craziest, punk rock, Kojima, rock and roll, like ‘holy shit they’re going to try to make that movie that does this in that many time periods?!’ Like it’s special. Whether we can execute on that script, whether we can get it made, who knows. But right now, I truly believe that the target is in the right direction, and so we’ll see what happens from there.”
Still, it’s important that he not overextend too much when putting his own stamp on Metal Gear Solid because there’s no way this’ll be a six-hour movie. The whole bit about “many time periods” does make us think he may need to pull it back a little. But, on the same token, that means we could be seeing not only Solid Snake, but also Naked Snake AKA Big Boss.
