Metal Gear Solid Movie Re-Announced As It Loses Director, Gets Two New Ones

Sony Pictures has officially announced a new push to adapt the Metal Gear Solid video game franchise into a live-action film, with directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein taking the helm. The pair, known for directing 2025’s Final Destination: Bloodlines, secured the project through a fresh first-look deal with Sony Pictures, where they are also developing an animated Venom movie.

This represents a significant directorial change, as previous plans to have Metal Gear super-fan Jordan Vogt-Roberts direct the adaptation have been abandoned. Lipovsky and Stein expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating they are “thrilled and honored” to bring Hideo Kojima’s iconic characters and world to life on screen.

The Metal Gear Solid movie project has an extraordinarily long development history. Hideo Kojima himself announced the film adaptation back in 2006—roughly 20 years ago—making it one of Hollywood’s longest-gestating video game adaptations. Over the years, various names have been attached to the project, including rumors that Viggo Mortensen or Hugh Jackman would play series protagonist Solid Snake, and speculation about directors like Paul Thomas Anderson helming the adaptation. However, despite occasional developments, the film never advanced beyond the pre-production phase.

This new announcement comes amid a broader landscape of video game adaptations that have been announced but never realized. Previous attempts at films like Just Cause (announced 2011) and Splinter Cell (in development since 2005) never materialized, highlighting the persistent challenges of translating video game properties to film.

Metal Gear Solid Movie Re-Announced As It Loses Director, Gets Two New Ones

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