A video game movie adaptation is something that just hasn’t hit its stride yet. Gamers just want something that doesn’t ruin the image of the franchise, or don’t make it at all. Earlier this week, We Got This Covered sat down with Jordan Vogt-Roberts, the director of Kong: Skull Island and the future Metal Gear Solid film. When asked about his commitment to the project, Vogt-Roberts answered:
“Metal Gear is something I’ve been attached to for a long time. It’s a movie I fought tooth and nail to try and attach myself to because it is potentially the most precious property on this Earth to me. And it is one of the most tricky and idiosyncratic properties on the planet, where the creator’s voice, Hideo Kojima, is a genius. It would also be one of the easiest properties for Hollywood to mess up. Luckily, there are very smart producers on it. It’s the type of thing where it would be very easy for Hollywood to be like, “Oh, it’s like Mission: Impossible!” No, it’s not Mission: Impossible. “It’s like G.I. Joe!” No, it’s not G.I. Joe. Metal Gear Solid IS Metal Gear Solid and can only be Metal Gear Solid.
It is an incredibly tricky thing to adapt because of how specific the tone is. Kojima’s tone is so brilliant in what it does. The tone of this movie at times could take itself very seriously, be very intense, and then next moment, it can be very goofy and very sort of out there. There is no other property on the planet that I would want to protect and shepherd more than the Metal Gear Solid property.We are working on a script and have great producers. The goal is to get the script right and do justice to a movie that is unlike anything else that exists in movies or video games or anything. It’s one of the most influential properties in my life. And I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know the creator over the last couple of years. Just to be able to spend time with him is great.”
Vogt-Roberts with Kojima via twitter
It’s great to see such commitment to a franchise and clearly Vogt-Roberts is a huge fan of the Metal Gear series. His passion for the franchise may help save it from being another Warcraft or Assassin's Creed, but it’s not a guarantee. Although, despite the many bad film adaptations of video games in recent years, I have hope. When you have fan films such as Metal Gear Solid Philanthropy from Hive Division, you realize that there could be good films based on video games if the passion is there. Clearly, Vogt-Roberts shows how passionate he is about the Metal Gear series in his response. So, maybe there is a sliver of hope for us Metal Gear fans, just as long as there isn’t a naked Raiden on the big screen anytime soon.
Check out Hive Divisions MGS Philanthropy Part 2 Preview below.
