Konami has confirmed that Kiefer Sutherland has replaced David Hayter as the voice actor for Solid Snake. Sutherland’s pipes will be heard in the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain. According to Polygon, Metal Gear Solid director Hideo Kojima chose Sutherland on the advice of producer Avi Arad (longtime Marvel producer). While many longtime MGS fans were bummed about Hayter being replaced, Kojima felt that a change was necessary for a 49-year old Snake and a new game:
The themes are a little different from previous games in the series. We’re taking on some heavy subjects, like race and revenge. As a result, I wanted Snake to have a more subdued performance expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice, rather than words.
It’s different from anything we’ve done before. I felt that he was the perfect fit, in terms of age and performance.
Sutherland has a lot of nerd fans from his work on 24. While he’s had a number of great movie and television performances, he’ll always be the guy from The Lost Boys and A Few Good Men to me. Those roles combined with the fact that Hayter has been voicing Solid Snake since 1998 will make Sutherland’s performance a strange experience for me, at least initially. Hopefully he’ll do a good enough job that gamers will get over the replacement quickly.
How do you feel about Kiefer Sutherland being the new voice of Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain?
Ah its sooooo hard because hes such a meh actor! Has he ever done VO jobs?? I think it’s time for Kojima to let someone else take over the MGS franchise.
In Kojima I trust. I don’t understand removing Hayter for the reasons stated since he is in his mid 40s if I’m not mistaken plus he has the gravely smoking voice that fits the character as he’s been presented thus far.
I’m guessing Kojima wants to up the level of the story and wants a professional western actor the same as if it were an eastern actor for Snake. Hopefully Sutherland takes it seriously and delivers a great performance.