David Hayter, the longstanding voice of Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series, has sparked fresh speculation about his return to the beloved character he last portrayed over ten years ago.
Hideo Kojima, the creator of Metal Gear, controversially opted to replace Hayter with Kiefer Sutherland, best celebrated for his character in the series 24, for the 2015 title Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. Hayter's last performance as Snake was in 2010's Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. The question now arises: could Hayter be making a comeback? A recent cryptic tweet from him suggests that might be the case. He mentioned, “I was in the booth today,” indicating play for a role not reprised since then, and he shared a gif of Snake from the forthcoming Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
Initially, it appears that Hayter is recording lines for Snake in the eagerly awaited remake of Metal Gear Solid 3. However, Konami has stated that Delta will utilize the original dialogue from Snake Eater, meaning that all cinematics will be identical in terms of both frames and lines.
This leaves fans wondering what Hayter is alluding to. Theories are abound, with possibilities ranging from promotional activities for Metal Gear Solid Delta to additional content being prepared for release alongside the game. Another intriguing option is that he may be involved in voice work for a fan-made Sonic film, titled Sonic Villains, where he is reportedly set to voice Solid Snake.
Even more thrilling is the prospect that Hayter may be making a return as Snake for a new, unannounced Metal Gear Solid title. If this is indeed the case, what might that entail? In June of the previous year, observant fans discovered placeholder buttons on the official Metal Gear Solid timeline, hinting at Metal Gear Solid 4, Metal Gear Solid V, and the Metal Gear franchise Solid: Peace Walker. Sources suggest these titles could be part of an unreleased Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 2. This raises the possibility that Hayter is doing voice work for one or all of those games, or perhaps Konami is preparing a brand-new Metal Gear installment where Hayter would reprise his role.
At this stage, it remains a mystery, although it seems reasonable to dismiss the idea of a revitalized version of the classic Metal Gear Solid. Konami recently indicated that remaking the iconic first game would present significantly more challenges than the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, primarily due to the need for numerous new elements.
In previewing Metal Gear Solid Delta, it was noted that the project feels more like an enhanced HD remaster rather than the sophisticated remake fans might have anticipated. It evokes a sense of nostalgia but remains almost too faithful in its execution.
