Because of its (overly?) cinematic approach to storytelling, Metal Gear Solid has been high on the list of video games just waiting to be plucked up by Hollywood. Apparently it would be unwise for Metal Gearheads to hold their breath on this one though, according to Collider.
Over there Frosty has dropped the latest bit of his conversation with producer Mike De Luca (who also spoke about the Ghost Rider sequel), and he explains that the film happening is extremely unlikely due to a lack of “coordinated will” from Sony and Konami.
“…the video game companies are very protective of their property and there are certain things a studio requires freedom-wise to market and distribute a movie effectively in a global marketplace and sometimes getting those two things to match up is really hard. And in the case of Metal Gear Solid, the agendas just….not because the parties weren’t amicable, it was just kind of impossible to get the agendas to match up.”
How De Luca tells it, the film was never really that close to moving forward at any point, and now the energy has completely dissipated from the project. Frosty astutely notes that any success from Prince of Persia could trigger a reexamination of the project, but even that’s an unlikely prospect- no one involved in this property has ever seemed to be on the same page. Besides, one video game film out of dozens finally making a wave isn’t going to spark a sudden renaissance for video game films (and Prince of Persia doesn’t look like it will be that wave-making picture anyway).
The few more short bits have De Luca discussing the protective attitude of video game companies, and how Hollywood has little to offer them. Sequels and superheros it shall remain.