Sony‘s long-gestating Metal Gear Solid movie has just taken a major step forward.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein have signed “a sweeping and expansive first-look deal” with Sony Pictures. Under the deal, the Final Destination Bloodlines directors, via their newly-launched company Wonderlab, will develop films for them to direct and original projects that they will produce for other directors. The focus is on creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.
“Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today,” said Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group President Sanford Panitch in a statement. “With projects across all the company’s film labels, we are so happy to create a home for them, and proud to have them as part of the Sony family.”
As part of the deal, Lipovsky and Stein will direct Sony’s feature adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid video game franchise. A Metal Gear movie has been kicking around Hollywood since 2006 and at Sony since 2012.
“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,” said Lipovsky and Stein in a statement.
The first Metal Gear game was released in 1987 for MSX home computers. The player often takes control of a special forces operative, usually Solid Snake, who is typically assigned the task of finding the titular superweapon, “Metal Gear”, a bipedal walking tank (mecha) with the ability to launch nuclear weapons. It’s a stealth combat game with sci-fi and spy features, a.k.a. the perfect recipe for the next big blockbuster franchise.
Lipovsky and Stein replace Jordan Vogt-Roberts as directors of Sony’s Metal Gear Solid movie. Vogt-Roberts was originally attached to the project from 2015 to as recent as 2020, which is when Oscar Isaac signed on to portray Solid Snake. With no mention in THR‘s report, it seems that Isaac is no longer attached to Metal Gear Solid.
What Else Are Lipovsky & Stein Working on?
Besides Metal Gear Solid, Lipovsky and Stein are working on an animated Venom movie for Sony Pictures Animation and the original sci-fi epic The Earthling for Columbia Pictures. They will direct both.
The duo have also been working on several high-profile projects at other studios, including Gremlins 3 at Warner Bros., Long Lost with Amblin and Universal, and The Traveler at Paramount.
Who do you think should play Solid Snake in Sony’s Metal Gear Solid movie?
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