Oscar Isaac wants the world to know that he is game to play Solid Snake in the planned Metal Gear Solid movie adaptation.
While participating in IGN’s cast roundtable for Netflix’s Triple Frontier, IGN host Max Scoville asked the star-studded lineup — including Isaac, Pedro Pascal, Ben Affleck, Garrett Hedlund and Charlie Hunnam — which video game-turned-film they would want to be a part of. Isaac, who is best known for his role in Star Wars as Poe Dameron, was quick to voice his interest in the Hideo Kojima classic Metal Gear Solid.
“Metal Gear Solid, that’s the one,” said Isaac. “I’m throwing my hat in for that one.” You can watch this portion of the interview starting at the 12:30 minute marker below:
Kong: Skull Island director Jordan Vogt-Roberts is attached to direct a Metal Gear movie, and this isn’t the first time Isaac’s name has been suggested for the role as Snake. BossLogic took to Twitter back in August to sketch what Isaac would look like in the role, saying they chose the Star Wars actor because “he has a dope mean mug so I wanted to see how he looks.”
Update: Vogt-Roberts has shared a story on his Twitter account in response to this article about how BossLogic’s Oscar-Isaac-as-Snake image came to be. He shows old DMs from August 2018 specifically asking BossLogic to Photoshop Isaac as Snake, which led to the image cited above. Vogt-Roberts writes in his tweet, “The full process required to cast an icon hasn’t even started, but … The ball’s in Oscar’s court.”
IGN’s original story continues below:
Isaac offered his take on why he thinks video game adaptations haven’t caught on in the same way as superhero adaptations, saying, “With the video game thing, I think the trick will be how do you replicate the feeling of what it feels like to play a video game. I think where it goes wrong often is with the plots.”
“That’s because you can’t play a movie,” Affleck jumped in, to which Isaac responded, “I know, but how do you get some of that feelings of what it feels like?”
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: May 28, 1993\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B+\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 15%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $20,915,465\r\n
\r\n
\r\nSuper Mario Bros. has a surprisingly high CinemaScore given its general reputation among Mario fans. Critics clearly didn\u0027t enjoy it, though.”,”height”:1024,”width”:1820,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1993—super-mario-bros-1520956003919.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1993—super-mario-bros-1520956003919_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”02″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”STREET FIGHTER\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Dec. 23, 1994\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 15%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $33,423,521\r\n
\r\n
\r\nAudiences were slightly cooler on Street Fighter than Super Mario Bros, while the 15% Tomatometer rating is identical.”,”height”:1010,”width”:1796,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1994—street-fighter-1520956003924.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1994—street-fighter-1520956003924_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”03″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”MORTAL KOMBAT\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Aug. 18, 1995\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: A-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 34%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $70,454,098\r\n
\r\n
\r\nMortal Kombat received an impressive A- from audiences, though still a very weak reaction from critics. That was enough to make it one of the highest-grossing video game movies of all time. “,”height”:675,”width”:1200,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1995—mortal-kombat-1520956003927.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1995—mortal-kombat-1520956003927_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”04″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”MORTAL KOMBAT: ANNIHILATION\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Nov. 21, 1997\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: C+\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 3%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $35,927,406\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCritics and audiences alike had a much harsher reaction to the second Mortal Kombat movie, which wound up only earning about half of what its predecessor did.”,”height”:669,”width”:1187,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1997—mk-annihilation-1520956003931.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1997—mk-annihilation-1520956003931_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”05″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”WING COMMANDER\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Mar. 12, 1999\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: D\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 10%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $11,578,059\r\n
\r\n
\r\nWing Commander was the first video game movie to fall below the \u0022C\u0022 threshold in terms of CinemaScore, while critics were even more harsh towards the movie.”,”height”:707,”width”:1257,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1999a—wing-commander-1520956003934.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1999a—wing-commander-1520956003934_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”06″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”POKEMON: THE FIRST MOVIE\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Nov. 10, 1999\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: A-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 14%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $85,744,662\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCritics and audiences were extremely divided on the first Pokemon movie, as it nabbed an impressive \u0022A-\u0022 CinemaScore and a solid box office gross but an abysmal 14% on Rotten Tomatoes.”,”height”:1020,”width”:1813,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1999b—pokemon-1520956003937.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/1999b—pokemon-1520956003937_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”07″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”POKEMON: THE MOVIE 2000\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: July 21, 2000\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: A-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 15%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $43,758,684\r\n
\r\n
\r\nThe response to the second Pokemon movie was almost identical to the first, with the critical consensus improving only slightly. The film also fell well below its predecessor in terms of box office gross.”,”height”:970,”width”:1724,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2000—pokemon-2-1520956003939.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2000—pokemon-2-1520956003939_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”08″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”POKEMON 3: THE MOVIE\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Apr. 6, 2001\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: A-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 22%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $17,052,128\r\n
\r\n
\r\nThe third Pokemon movie continued the series streak of \u0022A-\u0022 CinemaScores. Critics were slightly kinder to the film this time, though the series also continued its steep decline at the box office.”,”height”:687,”width”:1222,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2001a—pokemon-3-1520956003942.png”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2001a—pokemon-3-1520956003942_{size}.png”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:”09″,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: June 15, 2001\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 20%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $131,168,070\r\n
\r\n
\r\nWhile generally regarded as one of the better video game adaptations, the 20% Tomatometer reading shows that critics weren\u0027t won over by Angelina Jlie\u0027s Lara Croft. To date, however, Tomb Raider remains the highest-grossing video game adaptation of all time.”,”height”:799,”width”:1421,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2001b—tomb-raider-1520956003943.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2001b—tomb-raider-1520956003943_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:10,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: July 11, 2001\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: C+\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 45%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $32,131,830\r\n
\r\n
\r\nSquare\u0027s ambitious CG-animated film proved to be somewhat more appealing to critics than past video game movies, but between the \u0022C\u0022 CinemaScore and the underwhelming box office gross, the film was immediately regarded as a massive flop.”,”height”:673,”width”:1199,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2001c—final-fantasy-1520956003947.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2001c—final-fantasy-1520956003947_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:11,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”RESIDENT EVIL\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Mar. 15, 2002 \r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 34%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $40,119,709\r\n
\r\n
\r\nThe first Resident Evil movie continued the usual trend of video game movies clocking in with solid CinemaScores and a failing critical consensus. Its box office gross was enough to spawn a long-running franchise. “,”height”:787,”width”:1399,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2002—resident-evil-1520956003951.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2002—resident-evil-1520956003951_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:12,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER – THE CRADLE OF LIFE\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: July 25, 2003\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 25%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $65,660,196\r\n
\r\n
\r\nAudiences were slightly cooler on this Tomb Raider sequel, while critics were slightly warmer. But the film\u0027s lower box office haul was enough to cut this franchise short.”,”height”:1442,”width”:2552,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2003—tomb-raider-2-1520956003955.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2003—tomb-raider-2-1520956003955_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:13,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Sep. 10, 2004\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 21%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $51,201,453\r\n
\r\n
\r\nThe second Resident Evil movie met with similar responses to the first, but the higher box office total proved the franchise had some legs.”,”height”:1727,”width”:3070,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2004—re2-1520956003957.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2004—re2-1520956003957_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:14,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”ALONE IN THE DARK\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Jan. 28, 2005\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: F\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 1%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $5,178,569\r\n
\r\n
\r\nMost of Uwe Boll\u0027s video game adaptations don\u0027t have CinemaScores, which is understandable given how frosty the reception was to Alone in the Dark. This film is currently at the bottom of the pack in terms of both CinemaScore and Tomatometer percentage.”,”height”:674,”width”:1199,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2005—alone-in-the-dark-1520956003959.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2005—alone-in-the-dark-1520956003959_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:15,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”DOOM\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Oct. 21, 2005\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 19%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $28,212,337\r\n
\r\n
\r\nDoom proved to be yet another video game adaptation that earned a respectable CinemaScore and a failing grade from critics. “,”height”:675,”width”:1200,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2005—doom-1520956003961.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2005—doom-1520956003961_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:16,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”SILENT HILL\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Apr. 21, 2006\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: C\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 29%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $46,982,632\r\n
\r\n
\r\nSilent Hill is another of the more well-regarded video game adaptations, though that fact is reflected more in its box office haul than its mediocre CinemaScore or failing critic average.”,”height”:900,”width”:1599,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2006—silent-hill-1520956003962.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2006—silent-hill-1520956003962_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:17,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”RESIDENT EVIL: EXTINCTION\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Sep. 21, 2007\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B-\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 23%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $50,648,679\r\n
\r\n
\r\nThe Resident Evil franchise showed no signs of slowing in its third installment, with CinemaScore, critic average and box office gross all remaining pretty much in line with RE: Apocalypse.”,”height”:1687,”width”:3000,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2007a—re3-1520956003964.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2007a—re3-1520956003964_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:18,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”HITMAN\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Nov. 21, 2007\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: B\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 15%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $39,687,694\r\n
\r\n
\r\nHitman earned a decent \u0022B\u0022 rating from audiences and a modest box office haul, but once again, critics were not impressed.”,”height”:1080,”width”:1920,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2007b—hitman-1520956003966.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2007b—hitman-1520956003966_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:19,”albumTotalCount”:32},{“caption”:”MAX PAYNE\r\n
\r\n
\r\nRELEASE DATE: Oct. 17, 2008\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCINEMASCORE: C\r\n
\r\n
\r\nTOMATOMETER: 16%\r\n
\r\n
\r\nBOX OFFICE: $40,689,393\r\n
\r\n
\r\nCritics were predictably unmoved by Max Payne, though the film also failed to land in the usual \u0022B\u0022 range seen with most video game adaptations.”,”height”:815,”width”:1449,”url”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2008—max-payne-1520956003969.jpg”,”styleUrl”:”https:\/\/assets1.ignimgs.com\/2018\/03\/13\/2008—max-payne-1520956003969_{size}.jpg”,”credit”:””,”objectRelationName”:””,”objectRelationUrl”:””,”albumName”:”CinemaScore: What Audiences Think of Video Game Movies”,”relativePosition”:20,”albumTotalCount”:32}]’
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As for the rest of the Triple Frontier cast, Game of Thrones alum Pedro Pascal was first to say, “Yeah, I would” star in a video game movie, though his best suggestion was an adaptation of Dig Dug. “You should do a Dig Dug movie,” Affleck agreed while laughing.
Adria Aroja, who plays Yovanna in Triple Frontier, actually already is a part of the biggest game in the world: Fortnite. She voices Ramirez in the Epic Games title, but she had no idea when she was auditioning for Fortnite that it was going to be the global sensation that it has since become.
“I actually didn’t know it was going to be this big,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I wish I had known because I would have asked for more money!”
Explaining how she came to the role, Aroja said, “I was on hiatus and I wasn’t going to work for a couple of months, and I just thought it would be really exciting to experience. I never thought I would do anything like that. It was just fun, and I remember them scrambling, it was budget issues — it was just a tiny little independent video game. That’s what it felt like when we were doing it. And then to see the success of it, it’s just insane.”
Both Affleck and Hedlund said they’d be interested in starring in a video game movie, but aren’t particular about what it would be. “I don’t have anything so specific as Oscar. Oscar’s really angling for a job!” said Affleck, joking, “You know, I’m open. I’m open to… maybe the guy in Dragon’s Lair?”
“I’m open as well,” added the Tron: Legacy star. “Maybe Mario Kart?”
Directed by J.C. Chandor, Triple Frontier stars Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund and Adria Aroja and will hit Netflix on March 13. The synopsis for the film reads: “Loyalties are tested when five former special forces operatives reunite to steal a drug lord’s fortune, unleashing a chain of unintended consequences.”
What video game adaptations would you most like to see this cast star in? Let us know in the comments below!
Terri Schwartz is Editor-in-Chief of Entertainment at IGN. Talk to her on Twitter at @Terri_Schwartz.