Metal Gear Sneaking into Movies?

By Geoff Duncan February 9, 2007

Metal Gear Sneaking into Movies?

Showbiz trade magazine Variety is reporting that Sony Pictures and game maker Konami are getting ready to make a theatrical movie based on the Metal Gear video game franchise. The Metal Gear and Metal Gear Solid video games are stealth action titles in which players guide a covert operative through a maze of guards, traps, secret bases, and hidden lairs, while taking on bosses, engaging in a few fights here and there, and eventually accomplishing the game’s mission.

Since its introduction for the PlayStation in 1998, Metal Gear Solid has sold more than 20 million copies of various franchise titles on several game platforms; the original Metal Gear game debuted way back in 1987.

According to Variety, the movie will be produced by Michael De Luca (whose credits include executive producer roles in Blade movies, Boogie Nights,Pleasantville,Wag the Dog, and Ghost Rider), while Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima will be on bard as an executive producer.

Rumors of a Metal Gear movie have been circulating for almost a year, but Sony’s Yair Landau confirmed the studio was working to make it happen at the DICE video game conference in Las Vegas.

Editors' Recommendations

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Gaming

Nintendo’s Zelda movie needs to be nothing like The Super Mario Bros. Movie

Link pulls out the master sword in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The long-rumored The Legend of Zelda live-action movie is actually happening, with Nintendo confirming that it's officially in production. It’s a logical move following The Super Mario Bros. Movie, one of the year’s highest-grossing films. Video game adaptations appear to be in fashion more than ever before -- seemingly dethroning superhero movies in the process -- and it’s undeniably exciting to see more and more of my favorite franchises make their way to the big screen.

But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried.

Gaming

Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection continues the series’ endless relevance

Solid Snake and Raiden hold weapons in Metal Gear Solid 2.

It’s never been a better time to replay the Metal Gear Solid series -- and that fills me with dread.

Usually, I’m overjoyed anytime I have an excuse to recommend an old game I love. While I’ve spent my life gaming alone in various living rooms, I believe those experiences are meant to be shared. There’s joy in getting to introduce something special to someone who’s never played before and then getting to see their reactions. But when it comes to Metal Gear Solid, that recommendation usually comes with a somber undertone.

Gaming

Gunbrella is another bloody B-movie in Devolver’s video game grindhouse

Key art for Gunbrella shows a man with an umbrella gun.

It only takes a few minutes for me to figure out exactly what I’m in for upon starting Gunbrella -- though its title alone should have been a dead giveaway. The pixelated action game opens on a grim scene as I find my dear wife gunned down in our home. When I flash-forward to the present day and find myself blowing through enemies with a deadly umbrella, it becomes clear: I’m in a B-movie.

It’s a cinematic tradition I’m very familiar with. When I was a kid, my friends and I would often rent the lowest-budget action movie we could find at Blockbuster and revel in its schlock. Oftentimes, we were treated to unpredictable experiences that threw every rule of filmmaking out the window in favor of cheeseball entertainment. They were absolute messes, but that was the charm; we craved that idiotic jolt of entertainment. I couldn’t tell you a single thing about the inarguably bad Chupacabra Terror, but I still haven’t forgotten the experience of watching it.