‘Final Destination’ duo sign on to direct Sony’s long-awaited ‘Metal Gear Solid’ movie

Directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, fresh off their 2025 franchise revival hit, have officially been tapped by Sony Pictures to helm the first-ever cinematic adaptation of Hideo Kojima.‘s iconic stealth game series.

Sony Pictures announced on April 9, 2026, that Lipovsky and Stein had signed a wide-ranging first-look deal covering all of the studio’s film labels, with Metal Gear Solid named as the flagship directing commitment under that agreement, as The Hollywood Reporter first reported.

A franchise-revival track record that earned Sony’s trust

The duo made their mainstream breakthrough with Final Destination: Bloodlines, released in May 2025. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film became both the highest-grossing and best-reviewed entry in the franchise, reinvigorating a dormant Warner Bros. property.

Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group President Sanford Panitch said in a statement, “Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today.”

Two decades in development — and a director change

The Metal Gear Solid movie has had one of Hollywood’s longest development runways. Series creator Hideo Kojima publicly confirmed a film adaptation was in progress as far back as 2006, according to Consequence.

Jordan Vogt-Roberts, a self-described super-fan of the franchise, had been attached to direct since 2015. He has now been replaced by Lipovsky and Stein, whose genre instincts and proven commercial appeal appear to have won Sony over.

The project also had an actor attached at one point: Oscar Isaac was confirmed in the role of Solid Snake in 2020. Whether he remains attached is currently unclear, according to Consequence.

“Metal Gear Solid was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionized video games. We are thrilled and honored to bring Hideo Kojima’s iconic characters and unforgettable world to life.”

— Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, via The Hollywood Reporter

Wonderlab and a packed slate

As part of the Sony deal, Lipovsky and Stein have launched Wonderlab, a production banner through which they will develop projects both for themselves and for other directors. The company is currently recruiting its executive leadership, according to Deadline.

Beyond Metal Gear Solid, the pair’s slate already includes a Gremlins feature for Warner Bros., an animated Venom film for Sony, Long Lost with Amblin and Universal, The Traveler at Paramount, and a sequel to their indie sci-fi film Freaks, which is currently in post-production.

The bigger picture: Sony’s video game movie push

Metal Gear Solid joins a growing roster of game adaptations at Sony. The studio is also developing a Resident Evil movie with director Zach Cregger and a live-action Legend of Zelda film directed by Wes Ball, according to GameSpot.

Kojima’s other franchise is also in motion: a live-action Death Stranding film from director Michael Sarnoski is in development alongside two separate anime adaptations of the same property.

Father-and-son producers Avi Arad and Ari Arad are producing the Metal Gear Solid film for Columbia Pictures. Arad Productions has been attached to the project since at least 2012, when Kojima confirmed their involvement at the franchise’s 25th anniversary.

Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed April 10, 2026.