Sony Pictures Taps Final Destination: Bloodlines Directors for Long-Awaited Metal Gear Solid Adaptation

Is the long-awaited Metal Gear Solid movie finally happening? According to The Hollywood Reporter, Final Destination: Bloodlines duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein have signed a new first-look deal with Sony Pictures, which also includes them directing a planned adaptation of the seminal MGS video game series.

Under the filmmakers’ new deal with Sony, the duo will develop films to direct and original projects that they will produce for other directors under their newly launched production company, WonderLab. THR notes that their focus will be on “creating wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.” Additionally, they are also said to be meeting potential executives to help lead the new production house.

Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group President Sanfrod Panitch said in a statement on the news, “Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today.” He added, “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.”

Lipovsky and Stein also said in a joint statement, “We are honored to be partnering with the incredible executive team at Sony.” They added, “While working with several Sony teams in the last year, we’ve been blown away by the level of creativity, thoughtfulness, and passion we felt in every conversation. We share the vision that Tom, Sanford, Peter, Louie, Kristine, Damien, Ashley, and the whole Sony team have for creating theatrical event films that entertain the world.”

With regards to MGS, they also stated, “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.”

Is the Metal Gear Solid Movie Finally Happening?

THR notes that under their first-look deal, they will direct the Metal Gear Solid adaptation, the iconic video game created by Hideo Kojima. Father-and-son Avi Arad and Ari Arad are attached as producers. A Metal Gear Solid movie has been kicked around Hollywood for many years, and it’s gone through multiple directors and suitors. The last we heard, Kong: Skull Island filmmaker Jordan Vogt-Roberts was attached to direct the feature, with Oscar Isaac in line to star, presumably as Solid Snake.

Lipovsky and Stein are also working on multiple other projects with Sony, including a planned Venom animated feature for Sony Pictures Animation. They are also working on an original, epic sci-fi feature for The Earthling for Sony’s Columbia Pictures label. They are attached to direct and produce the project with Eric Heisserer and Scott Glassgold.

The directors found great success with the Final Destination franchise. Their new installment, Bloodlines, released last year, was a box office smash, grossing $138 million domestically and over $317 million globally, becoming the highest-grossing and best-reviewed entry in the franchise yet.

It remains to be seen if Kojima’s seminal video game series will finally see the light of day on the big screen with Lipovsky and Stein attached, but this is the first major update regarding the adaptation in years.

Isaac previously boarded the project back in December 2020, with Vogt-Roberts as director. However, nothing ever materialized. It’s a sign of the glacial pace it takes to develop projects in Hollywood, even ones based on popular and established IP.