After over a decade of development hell, the Metal Gear Solid movie has finally gained new momentum.
How big is Metal Gear Solid? Metal Gear Solid isn’t just a game – it’s a cultural phenomenon. When the first game in the series was released on PlayStation in 1998, it revolutionised the entire genre with its cinematic storytelling, cutting-edge stealth mechanics and complex storylines of gene manipulation, nuclear deterrence and loyalty. Creator Hideo Kojima became a legend in the industry, and the series has sold over 60 million copies worldwide. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty was so ambitious that in many ways it predicted the internet-age surveillance society – long before Edward Snowden or Cambridge Analytica. In short: This is one of the most influential and much-loved game series of all time.
A film adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s stealth action franchise has been in various stages of development for a number of years. Early talks started as early as the 2000s, before the project finally took off in the early 2010s with Arad Productions in collaboration with Kojima and Columbia Pictures. Jordan Vogt-Roberts, who was then set to direct Kong: Skull Island, was originally attached as director, and Oscar Isaac was cast as Solid Snake in late 2020 – but since then, it’s mostly been quiet, aside from reports of various script changes.
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Now, as first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Sony has chosen director duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein to direct the film adaptation of Metal Gear Solid. In addition to joining the long-running project, the couple has also signed a “first-look” deal with the studio. Their recently launched company, Wonderlab, will work with them to develop projects both for themselves and other directors. Lipovsky and Stein wrote the following statement about the film:
“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.”
From Final Destination to Solid Snake
Lipovsky and Stein continue their path to mainstream stardom behind the camera after their breakthrough with Final Destination Bloodlines. Just before the Kojima adaptation, it was also announced that they have been hired to make their animated debut with a new Venom movie, with Tom Hardy attached as a producer – although it is currently unknown if he will reprise his Marvel role. In addition, the duo is developing an original sci-fi epic titled The Earthling and has co-written the Gremlins 3 script with returning director Chris Columbus.
Perfect timing for Metal Gear Solid fans
The development update comes at a crucial time for the Metal Gear Solid series as a whole. Konami has just released the re-release of Snake Eater, which received mostly positive reviews from critics and gamers alike. Even more notably, the game was an instant commercial success – it became the best-selling physical game in Japan, and globally it surpassed one million units sold in the first 24 hours of its release in August 2025.
Unanswered questions
Although the project is finally back on track, several questions remain about what the Metal Gear Solid movie will actually be. For one thing, the reports don’t say anything about the status of the script – including whether Lipovsky and Stein will write it themselves, or whether they will bring in a third person to take care of it. It is also not clear if the film will adapt the plot from a particular game, or if it will be an original story set in the universe.
The other big question is whether Oscar Isaac is still attached to the role of Solid Snake. The Golden Globe winner was originally cast because he was interested in the character himself, and his statements during the five years since he joined the project suggest that he is passionate about the material and wants to recreate Kojima’s universe on the big screen.
The way forward
With Lipovsky and Stein currently attached to several projects in addition to Metal Gear Solid, there are many indications that the film is still in an early development phase and has a way to go before we get answers to the big questions. However, since the duo and Sony are so clearly excited to move forward with the customization that they’re announcing it right now, more updates could be coming in the near future.
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