After many months and years of speculation, Columbia Pictures, part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, has revealed that it is in negotiations to develop a movie adaptation of Konami’s Metal Gear series.
The cinematic cut scenes and complex storylines of the hit franchise has long made it a target for movie adaptation rumors, with series creator Hideo Kojima being forced to deny reports last year that director Uwe Boll was not involved in the project, after Konami revealed that work had begun on a live action movie – while refusing to reveal any details.
Although Columbia Picture’s interest has now been confirmed no producer, director or actors have been announced, with a Reuters/Hollywood Reporter article implying, but not confirming, that the movie would be based on the plot of Metal Gear Solid on the PlayStation. (The information was originally brought to the public's attention via a GameSpot article quizzing Sony's Yair Landau on the project.)
The announcement in no way guarantees that a movie will be made, with Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox famously postponing an agreement to co-finance a Halo movie with The Lord of the Rings producer Peter Jackson last year.
Apart from the game series’ suitability for movie treatment, compared to the often thin plots of other major franchises, the Metal Gear series as a whole has totaled sales of more than $1 billion and 20 million units over a period of twenty years. The franchise has also sold 3 million strategy guides, 1.5 million action figures and 200,000 comic books.
