The long-in-development Metal Gear Solid film adaptation finally has its directors. Per The Hollywood Reporter, Sony had inked a deal with Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, who had revived the Final Destination franchise last year with Final Destination: Bloodlines.
Under the deal with Sony, Lipovsky and Stein’s newly-launched company, Wonderlab, will develop films for the team to direct, as well as original projects for them to produce. The goal is to “[create] wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films,” which happens to include Hideo Kojima‘s 1998 stealth action classic. Avi and Ari Arad will produce the film.
Lipovsky and Stein have been in demand since Bloodlines cleaned up at the box office, with the duo being snapped up for The Earthling adaptation, the sci-fi thriller Freaks 2, and a new Venom animated movie, among others.
“Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today,” says Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group President Sanford Panitch. “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.”
“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.”
The Metal Gear Solid adaptation has long in the works. Back in 2020, Dune star Oscar Isaac had been pegged to star as the iconic Solid Snake, under the direction of Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island). Vogt-Roberts had also written a draft of the script for the adaptation. No word on what’s become of this draft, as well as Issac and Vogt-Roberts’ involvement in the project.