Coming Soon had a chance to speak with producer Michael De Luca (21, Ghost Rider) and he passed along news that a Metal Gear Solid movie, based off the long-running hit espionage video game franchise, is once again going ahead. The project has been in the very early stages for sometime (see eerily similar Slashfilm post from Feb ‘07), and faced a set back from the writer’s strike. Moreover, De Luca says that a meeting will take place in the “next few weeks” with writer/director Kurt Wimmer about adapting a screenplay for the film.
Though De Luca didn’t directly state it, this probably means that Wimmer is also up to direct the big budget affair, as his previous films, Equilibrium starring Christian Bale and Ultraviolet starring Millo Jovovich, were similar fanboy-intensive, kinetic action/genre flicks. Neither one of those films connected at the box office, however, so MGS would be the director’s closest shot at bagging a sure thing, the whole video game curse notwithstanding. Wimmer’s next screenplay to hit the big screen will be April’s LAPD thriller Street Kings with Keanu Reeves.
Video game synopsis: Metal Gear Solid follows Solid Snake, a retired soldier who infiltrates a nuclear weapons disposal facility to neutralize the terrorist threat from FOXHOUND, a renegade special forces unit.
Discuss: Do you guys want Wimmer to direct Metal Gear Solid? I’m okay with it if he tones down some of the signature slick flashiness. What matters most to a MGS film, I feel, is the actor playing Solid Snake. Any suggestions? Is this the video game-movie holy grail, and if not, what is?
March 15th, 2008 at 10:55 am
metal gear sold is amazing and has potential to be a good movie. but, the guy who did ghost rider? jesus christ. disappointment guaranteed.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:14 am
i think wimmer should bring along christian bale
hes one of the best actors out there. i think hes perfect for the role
March 15th, 2008 at 11:14 am
How about Hideo Kojima directs the movie? Or not make it at all.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:21 am
The game is great but we all know games made into movies ususally aren’t. The guy who directed Ghost Rider did this so it’s pretty much guaranteed to suck. I like the idea of Christian Bale as Snake (he’s my favorite actor) but they need a better director and I hope the script is well-written.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:31 am
IMO, Metal Gear Solid is co-video-game-holy-grail along with Half-Life.
That being said, I don’t think there’s any way this movie could be made unless it’s written and directed by Kojima, and made entirely in CG. Fans have become very attached to David Hayter as the voice of Snake, and I don’t see how a live-action version can be made of MGS.
March 15th, 2008 at 11:58 am
@ Brian Rodden and ethanhedman
The guy who directed Ghost Rider is NOT directing Metal Gear Solid. Michael De Luca produced Ghost Rider, and his track record is okay for this type of film. Wimmers would be directing if the speculation is correct.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
It’s the producer of Ghost Rider, not the director - Mark Johnson. And the producer (De Luca) won’t be directing it so no worries in that department for now.
The problem with MGS is that it was influenced and created from a variety of classic films (Escape From New York, First Blood) and it could be easily adapted in a very cliched manner.
The thing is, they should throw away the very cinematic stylistics that are most apparant when you see/play MGS and look at the heart of it. It’s very much a series about the threat/cost of war but in a reality slightly off from our own (it’s almost like alternate world where the cold war never ended). When you view it like that, you should adapt it in the vein of Apocalypse Now, rather than your generic action flick.
I wish I had some hand in adapting this (a pipedream of course), because I would certainly not adapt Metal Gear Solid first. I’d adapt the original Metal Gear story, which leads into MGS and allows for an expansive universe of characters and storylines for the following sequels. Not only that but allows access to the Solid Snake character when he’s more naive and vunerable and then allows for his character progression in the latter films. It’s a video game franchise which if handled correctly could be one of the biggest franchises around, but it could very easily turn out to be the most generic action flick you’ve seen for a while. Please try to be the former…
March 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
Oh and as far as casting goes, I can understand why people are throwing in Christian Bale in the ring, but my original choice a few years back was Hugh Jackman and I’d stay with it. Not only does he look like the character more than anyone else, there’s a certain element in his portrayal of Wolverine which hints that he’d be spot on for Solid Snake.
And if anyone would play Big Boss, I’d vote for the original Snake himself…. Kurt Russell.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
I didn’t think about Christian Bale as snake but i think he could muster up a raspy enough voice for Solid Snake. But in order for this movie to not totally suck Hideo Kojima HAS to be involved in some way, shape, or form.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
My choice for Solid Snake is Josh Brolin. The guy is gruff, can handle firearms, has the voice and deserves a sick action vehicle.
March 15th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Snake? Snake?!? SNAAAAAAAAKE!!!
Please, please, Kurt Wimmer. Don’t do it. I agree with Kapit - Hideo Kojima needs to script and direct, with a bit of outside help. CG would be optimal, too - I can’t imagine any live action version appealing to fans.
That’s a pipe dream, though. Best wishes to whoever ends up being involved, and I hope that MGS has a chance at a decent adaptation…
March 15th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
@ Hunter
I never thought of Brolin before, but I think you’re right. He’d be excellent in the part. To be frank, he stole every movie he was part of in the past year and the prospect of him leading a film is a salivating one. It was a bit of a shame Bardem had to grab all the spotlight for the award season, since Brolin easily matched him in acting stakes in NCFOM, in the end it was just a case of it being a less ’showy’ role which meant he got left out of recognition at awards season.
March 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
@ Ben-A
Yeah dude, Brolin wearing the best headband this side of Karate Kid and snooping around in the rain with guns galore? I’m there.
March 15th, 2008 at 1:33 pm
Kurt Wimmer!!!!!!!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
March 15th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Brad Pitt would do a damn good Solid Snake, AND he’s sleeping with Lara Croft (LOL). Videogame Porn!
March 15th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Why yes, i’d love to see a 30-something dude in a skintight swimsuit sportin’ a mullet and a handband.
You say “Gay Rambo”, I say Solid Snake!
March 15th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
I’m 50-50 on this idea. It could be a brilliant opportunity (a chance to create more plots in between metal gear solid 1 to 4) like Hideo Kojima always does. But that’s if, Hideo is on board the production. He must but will he?
March 15th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
sony WILL have a part in this film and KOJIMA is going to be the executive producer.. with michael De luca helping out.
March 15th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
This is gonna be bad.
Equilibrium was tolerable, but only because of Bale.
Ultraviolet didn’t even manage that.
With Wimmer writing and directing, this movie is gonna suck hard.
And as for the so-called “video game curse”, the very notion is ridiculous. Unless the curse refers to how crappy writers and directors get attached to these films.
Why not get some genuine talent behind these adaptations instead of just employing hacks?
March 15th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
NONONONONONONONONO!!!!!
March 15th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
They had Christian Bale on the rumourline for Snake for a while now, actually…
March 16th, 2008 at 8:38 am
hideo kojima must be involved. Hugh jackman is possibly the best actor for snake but i think maybe a whole new story should be done instead?
March 16th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
hideo kojima was the one who announced that it would going on the big screen.. im thinking that means he is gonna be part of the project?? as far as the story goes hes not gonna let them do anything unless its under his conditions. the only problem about this project is the director and cast. but hideo is working on the project…
March 16th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I would never thought Hideo Kojima would allow this, maybe he hasn’t got control.
The game is already cinematic enough do we want a movie?
March 16th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
theres this upcoming screenwriter/brilliant actor named DAVID FUCKING HAYTER
March 16th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
kojima must write the story, he created the damn thing and he really knows his way around storytelling… replacing him with some “hollywood action flick writer” is almost the same that putting all the money so the movie FAILS and we never see a flick based on this ever again.
putting the whole writer issue aside… i’m glad I’ve already “played” through the other movies. And those weren’t tainted by movie execs or amateur sci fi writers.
March 17th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
David Hayter.
Not only does he voice Snake he looks just like him.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
well yea of course this film would be great if HIDEO KOJIMA directed it, remember, he always wanted to be a film director, but instead he put all his ideas into games, so thus meaning, GAMES = MOVIE = COOL, because many people out there wonder why the game has such a long story to it, thats because he wanted to make movies not games, and with this amazing story line, it would be bad ass…
April 30th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Well initially i would have definitely gone for Christian Bale…but after reading some of u guys suggesting Josh Brolin, i think that isnt a bad idea either…however i cant help thinking Josh Brolin would be a better contender against the likes of Ed Harris or John Malkovich to bag the role of Ocelot. I dont know if any of u would be interested but (this is quite an impossible consideration) but could u guys do a google image search on ‘Hrithik Roshan’…he definitely doesn’t have the voice but seems almost perfect for Snake in both looks and build…Especially like Liquid in Metal Gear 1…check it out and tell me what u guys think…anyway for the timebeing i guess the best options are Christian Bale and Josh Brolin…Hugh Jackman?….hmmmmmmmmmmmm…well maybe…if both the others call in sick or something…and Kurt Russell for Big Boss is a really bad idea…he’s got feminine gay eyes man…what’s his excuse gonna be?…that he switched eyes with Boss…
April 30th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Hey…howabout Ryan Reynolds…those of u who saw him in Amittyville Horror should remember how gruff he was in it…i mean he has the required height, build, looks and roughness…what’s left is the voice i’m not really sur…but i bet Christain Bale could sound just like Snake…
April 30th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
haha ur gay dawggggg watta up loc! wanna get down contact me homie nerds n such dont know anything u all talk big about directors n stuff and other things involved in trigonometry well u know what? KOJIMA = DIRECTOR
JACK BLACK = OTACON
DENSEL WASHINGTON = SIGINT
THE GIRL FROM RESIDENT EVIL = MERYL/PARAMEDIC
YOUR MOM = BIG MOMMA =]
WESLY SNIPES = COLONEL GUY ROY
ADAM SANDLER = RAIDEN LMAO
ROB SCHINDER = SNAKE/CARROT/STAPLER/ANIMAL
YEA! BADA** CAST…