The Metal Gear Solid movie… It feels like we’ve been speculating about it forever. Most recently, Oscar Isaac (who was attached to play Solid Snake in the long-awaited film) was reported to be no longer involved with the project. However, series creator Hideo Kojima has apparently found his ideal candidate for a live-action Snake.
In a positive review of Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga posted to X, Kojima commented on Tom Burke, who plays Furiosa’s mentor in the movie. “I could only see him as Snake,” said the auteur video game creator.
“When I met Tom at a party, I asked him about it and he told me that he was told that he looked like ‘Snake’ by the crew on the first day of shooting,” Kojima explained.
Burke is a 42-year-old English actor from London. Some of his credits include BBC’s The Musketeers, an adaption of War & Peace, 2021’s True Things, and The Crown.
For a man as well connected with Hollywood stars as Kojima, it is quite something that he has publicly named the actor he wants to star in the adaption of his most beloved work.
Unfortunately, the Metal Gear Solid movie has been stuck in development hell ever since it was announced on Metal Gear‘s 25th anniversary all the way back in 2012.
Director, Metal Gear fan, and friend of Kojima, Jordan Vogt-Roberts has been attached to the project since 2015. Oscar Isaac was cast as legendary hero Solid Snake in 2020 after both he and Vogt-Roberts expressed interest in him playing the iconic video game character.
Since then, there has been little news about the project other than Isaac telling IGN in 2022 that they were still “looking for the story.”
As mentioned, it was reported back in February that the Star Wars actor had left the project, leaving the role of Snake vacant. Kojima’s comments seem to confirm that the movie is, indeed, looking for a new lead.
Why things have taken as long as they have is anyone’s guess. There are eight games from which a story can be adapted, from which 1987’s Metal Gear, 1998’s Metal Gear Solid, and 2004’s Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater being the most obvious and logical candidates.
What’s more, you’d think the success of The Last of Us and Fallout TV series would have shown studios that investing in well-made, faithful video game adaptions is more than worth it.
Alas, we’re still without official news when it comes to the Metal Gear Solid movie. But at least we know who the man himself sees as Snake… And who are we to question Kojima-san?
Can you see Tom Burke as Solid Snake? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out our other gaming articles…
