Sony Greenlights Metal Gear Solid movie

Among video games that fans have long hoped would receive a movie or TV series adaptation, Metal Gear Solid is almost certainly at the top of that list. Consider that dream close to reality, as a Metal Gear Solid movie has officially been greenlit by Sony.

As first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaking duo Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, best known for their work on Final Destination Bloodlines, have been signed by Sony to “a sweeping and expansive first-look deal, covering all of the studio's film properties.”

Most notably, the deal will see the duo direct Sony's Columbia Pictures adaptation of Metal Gear Solid, the iconic Hideo Kojima-created video game widely considered to be among the best titles ever created. The pair will be joined by Avi Arad and Ari Arad, who are producing the film.

“Metal Gear Solid was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionized video games,” Lipovsky and Stein said in a statement. “We are excited and honored to bring Hideo Kojima's iconic characters and unforgettable world to life.”

In addition to the Metal Gear Solid film, a newly formed company, Wonderlab, will help develop films for the duo to direct or serve as producers for Sony. The focus will be on “wildly funny, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.”

“Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive directors/producers working today,” Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group President Sanford Panitch said in a statement. “With projects across all of the company's film labels, we're so excited to create a home for them and proud to have them as part of the Sony family.”

Since Kojima is a huge fan of movies, getting an adaptation of his work has been difficult to say the least. In 2006, Kojima revealed at that year's E3 conference that MGS would indeed be getting a live-action adaptation.

“I've had many offers to adapt Metal Gear Solid. It's taken a long time, but we've finally agreed on an arrangement,” Kojima said at the time. “Ace from False Facts is a film project in the works. I have finalized a Class-A contract with a party in Hollywood.”

But in 2010, the film stopped. It was later revived in 2012 and underwent years of treatment, with its most significant announcement being that Oscar Isaac would play the role of Solid Snake.

It has been quiet until today's news. That is, 20 years later, Metal Gear Solid is finally getting its adaptation.