Avi Arad, the founder of Marvel Studios (he no longer works there), has confirmed that Sony is developing a Metal Gear Solid movie based on the video game series by Hideo Kojima. The announcement was made at the Metal Gear Anniversary event in Tokyo with both Arad and Kojima present.
| Snake!? Snaaaaaaaaake! |
The popular and critically acclaimed series was first seen in the 1987 game Metal Gear, but found success when Konami released Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation (remember that?) in 1998. Three sequels followed (Sons of Liberty, Snake Eater and Guns of the Patriots) along with a few spin-offs. The game details the special forces operative Solid Snake who has to find and destroy the ‘Metal Gear’ superweapon – a walking tank that can launch nuclear missiles.
There’s a quote from Arad, who also produced The Amazing Spider-Man, that “video games are the comic books of today.” It’s an interesting point, if a little optimistic. Comic books still seem to be the comic books of today. The number of great superhero films is ever-swelling, but try naming even a handful of above-average video game film adaptations.
Then again, if any game can transfer well to the big screen, it’s Metal Gear Solid. The last installment, Guns of the Patriots, had so many lengthy cut-scenes it was a film in itself.
Let’s just pray Arad and Kojima don’t swerve us all and make a Raiden movie.
Originally published August 30, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
