The Internet’s been abuzz with theories since the recent announcement of a Metal Gear movie, produced by comic book movie veteran Avi Arad and distributed by Colombia Pictures. While the reveal at Metal Gear Solid’s 25th Anniversary was delivered with infectious enthusiasm, it quickly became apparent nobody had actually signed on to the thing yet, leaving a giant gaping chasm to fill with delicious speculation.
As we have no idea which part of Metal Gear’s 25 years worth of narrative the filmmakers will eventually focus on, we’ve decided to assemble a dream cast based on the characters from the 1998 original, as per the case made in our recent article. There was a narrative elegance to the original Metal Gear Solid – it was, after all, still free from the complexity woven into its sequels - and the story serves as a great entry point for newcomers to the franchise, introducing many of its now-iconic characters.
This is a hypothetical list based on who we think would best fit hypothetical roles, and in no way are these celebrities attached - or rumored to be attached - to the project.
But we can always dream.
The Headliners
Solid Snake
The eponymous Solid Snake is a challenging role. Go too gruff and you descend into caricature, play it too light and you go against his fundamental character. Snake needs to be physically imposing with a hard-bitten attitude, but tempered with easy humor and an obstinate belief in human virtue. We’ve already made some choices on who should fill the role – including Snake voice actor David Hayter (who would also be a great fit as screenwriter), Sean Bean and Liam Neeson – but there are a handful of other talented actors who could potentially carry its weight.
Viggo Mortensen
Mortensen has the right amount of ‘silent-but-righteous’ gravitas to play Snake, and his leading man creds have been established with his recent collaborations with director David Cronenberg. Further, his brutal nude fight scene in Eastern Promises proves he can brawl with the best of them.
Hugh Jackman
Jackman is a more clean-cut choice, yet his interpretation of Wolverine is one mutton chop away from Snake: tough, brooding, with a heart-of-gold buried under a thick layer of attitude. Jackman has shown time again that he can play the tough guy while retaining an irrefutable likeability, and rumor is he’s Kojima’s pick too, which really pushes him ahead of the pack.
Russell Crowe
Crowe has been traditionally viewed by public and press as somewhat unorthodox, both as celebrity and actor. His offscreen antics have seen him labelled a larrikin; while onscreen he’s played a number of flawed or tragic heroes to outstanding effect. The entire package suggests a devil-may-care attitude that’s a good fit for Snake.
Final verdict
1: Hugh Jackman
2: Russell Crowe
3: Viggo Mortenson
Honorable mentions : Sean Bean, David Hayter, Liam Neeson, Josh Holloway
Liquid Snake
The evil yin to Snake’s honorable yang, Liquid has a slippery charm befitting his name; the perfect counter to his twin brother’s immovable moral compass. A classic villain, Liquid is living in the shadow of the superior hero, and his obsessive jealousy manifests itself as loud-mouthed arrogance. He is verbose, yet sly, powerfully intelligent and highly motivated.
Michael Fassbender
There’s no denying Fassbender can do charm, and his turn as Magneto in X-Men: First Class proves he’s got the chops to take on an iconic villain. His multi-layered turn as David in Prometheus showcases his ability to play cold detachment and obsessive jealousy (in that instance, jealousy of the human race), traits shared by Liquid.
Ralph Fiennes
Liquid Snake is a showman, and coupled with his genius intellect it isn’t hard to imagine him chewing up the scenery on the Shakespearean stage. Why not, then, cast a Shakespearean actor in the role? Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes knows his shades of evil, from Amon Goeth to Voldemort. There’s something about that tragic gaze, too, that befits Liquid’s angry turmoil.
Hugh Jackman
Regardless of his natural gravitation towards the squeaky-clean, we’d be willing to see Jackman give a double-role a shot. If he can switch out musical theater for brooding superhero, surely the next obvious step would be to the wickedly sinister? He’s tried at bad guys before – in Deception, Scoop, and to a degree, Real Steel – but his hard-wired charm tends to temper their villainy. It’d be fascinating to see if he could rise to the occasion.
Final verdict
1: Ralph Fiennes
2: Hugh Jackman
3: Michael Fassbender
Honorable Mentions: Guy Pearce, Colin Farrell, Tom Hiddleston, Alan Tudyk
Hal Emmerich, aka Otacon
The character of Otacon has evolved over the series, but his goofy awkwardness remains a constant. He is, after all, a massive nerd, whose party trick in the original game seems to be the uncanny ability to pee his pants when under threat. The actor playing Otacon must be likeable, possessive of a nervous energy and above all, have great chemistry with his platonic-life-partner.
Cillian Murphy
Irish actor Cillian Murphy certainly has Otacon’s delicate, well-mothered features, and although not known for comedy, he’s a transformative actor whose roles have ranged from transgender escort to IRA member. There’s surely room for a sojourn.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt
He may look a little young (he’s not really, at 31), but Gordon-Levitt would undoubtedly bring the requisite warm humanity. The actor is a dab hand at comedy, too – look to last year’s Hesher for proof – not to mention he’s one of Hollywood’s hottest properties right now, and would likely bring in scores of fans who wouldn’t usually be interested in a video game adaptation.
John Cusack
It’s difficult to think of a more suitable actor for Otacon than John Cusack. He’s an actor drawn to irreverence, having played the nerdish, skittish loser on a number of occasions – not least, his bitter puppeteer in Being John Malchovich. But Cusack’s neuroses are charming; more frustrated passion than straight self-pity. As a likeable kook, he really can’t be beaten.
Final verdict
1: John Cusack
2: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
3: Cillian Murphy
Honorable Mentions: Alessandro Nivola, Sam Rockwell, Masi Oka
Meryl Silverburgh
Metal Gear Solid-era Meryl is an impassioned idealist. She’s quick to act tough and known for her ‘smart mouth’, but underneath she’s sweetly naive, enamored with the heroes of the past. The actress who takes on Meryl must be, vitally, young (she’s aged 18 in the original game, and it shows) but able to express herself with eloquence beyond her years.
Emma Stone
When trying to describe the appeal of Emma Stone (beyond the obvious), realness is perhaps the only fitting word. Her acting style comes across as very unguarded – helped by that adorably dorky laugh – which makes her an extremely accessible actress. This, coupled with that auburn hair? Meryl.
Alia Shawkat
If her name is unfamiliar, two words: Arrested Development. As Maeby Funke in the beloved sitcom, Shawcat maintains an adorable, tomboyish charm while delivering jibes with one of the most acid-laced tongues in the biz. She’d bring a great edge to Meryl.
Jennifer Lawrence
The Hunger Games and X-Men: First Class hot property Jennifer Lawrence has definitely got the right spirit for Meryl - her acting work aside, check out this interview on David Letterman – and she’s proven she can cut it on a cinematic battlefield. Plus, Lawrence is a draw-card for the mainstream crowd.
Final verdict
1: Emma Stone
2: Jennifer Lawrence
3: Alia Shawkat
Honorable Mentions: Elizabeth Banks, Kristen Bell, Keri Russell
Revolver Ocelot
The power-hungry, twisted gun-slinging showman of Metal Gear Solid cries out to be played by an actor with an air of danger or wildness about him. Ocelot should be an imposing figure – it’s the original game, of course, where he famously tortures Snake – yet be able to deliver playful quips like ‘There's nothing like the feeling of slamming a long silver bullet into a well greased chamber’ and maintain that gruff gravitas.
Gary Oldman
If 1992’s Dracula, 1991’s JFK, 1994’s Leon and 1997’s Air Force One taught us anything, it’s that Gary Oldman can do sinister really, really well. Commonly regarded as one of Hollywood’s most prominent chameleons, the actor could certainly step up to the role - although after his recent ‘good guy’ roles as Harry Potter’s Sirius Black and Batman’s Commissioner Gordan, he may not be so eager to return to the dark side.
Kris Kristofferson
If the name doesn’t immediately conjure up images from Blade, do a quick Google image search of Mr. Kristofferson. He’s a dead ringer for the gunslinger with his long white hair, heavy mustache and tall forehead, and his gravelly voice and outspoken off-screen attitude are cherries on top.
Daniel Day-Lewis
It was, perhaps, Day-Lewis’ facial hair in 2008’s There Will Be Blood that drew the initial comparisons to Ocelot, but we think the reclusive method actor would also brilliantly inhabit the character, as is his intoxicating trend. He’s done scary – Bill the Bucher in Gangs of New York – and raging – the aforementioned Daniel Plainview – so a Day-Lewis scary, raging Ocelot would really be a sight to behold. The problem of course, would be getting the notoriously picky actor to say yes.
Final verdict
1: Daniel Day-Lewis
2: Kris Kristofferson
3: Gary Oldman
Honorable mentions: Sam Elliot, David Wenham, Hugo Weaving
The Supporting Players
Psycho Mantis
Former contortionist and horror stalwart Doug Jones would be pitch perfect as the psychotic Psycho Mantis, bringing his slender frame and graceful physicality to the role.
Gray Fox
If Joel Edgerton could bring the same physical energy he brought to Warrior, the Aussie actor and Karate black belt would be a strong candidate for Metal Gear Solid’s cyborg ninja.
Naomi Hunter
A good match physically, Rose Byrne would also bring the requisite dramatic weight to the emotionally conflicted Dr. Naomi Hunter.
Roy Campbell
Bryan Cranston would do an outstanding job as military man Roy Campbell, reprising the kind of no-nonsense authoritarianism he brought to Contagion and his voice work on Batman: Year One.
Mei Ling
Canadian actress Ellen Wong – best known as Knives from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World – is just the right mix of kick-ass and adorable needed for Metal Gear Solid’s kick-ass and adorable data analyst.
Sniper Wolf
As, arguably, Metal Gear Solid’s most memorable villain, it’s hard to shake Scarlett Johansson’s hardened Black Widow out of your head.
Vulcan Raven
Tom Hardy. 'Nuff said.
Decoy Octopus
Although little is known about Metal Gear Solid’s master of disguise, Jackie Earle Haley has the right non-descript, transformative features for such a role.
Nastasha Romanenko
Milla Jovovich would convince as as the well-read military analyst, and it doesn’t hurt that she and Natasha are both from the Ukraine.
These are our picks - what are yours? Let us know in the comments.
Lucy O'Brien is Assistant Editor at IGN AU. You should talk to her about games, horror movies and the TV show Freaks & Geeks on IGN here, find her on Twitter here or meet the rest of the Australian team by joining the IGN Australia Facebook community.
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