Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is probably going to be a very controversial game given the themes that it plans to tackle. But what was more shocking is the fact that David Hayter, long time voice actor of Solid Snake and Big Boss got replaced by Kiefer Sutherland. However there is one strange theory that is doing the rounds of the internet which claims that Hayter will be back as Solid Snake and this Kojima is being Trolljima.
Last year, the voice actor of Raiden, Quinton Flynn hinted that Hayter will still be Solid Snake and Sutherland is only taking up the role of Big Boss. In a recent interview with Yong Yea, Flynn shared his thoughts about the entire Sutherland-Hayter drama.
“In fact a petition went around, not only did I sign, I wrote a letter of support for David. He’s brilliant, he’s a good friend, I love him. He deserves the role, he originated it. I supported that. As we know, in any kind of business there’s more to the story that we don’t know. So it had to be some kind of a business decision. “Why?” I don’t know, I don’t know that I’ll ever know. Only David know. Hideo knows. They probably know more than Kiefer knows. I think he got the job and I’m sure he was happy to do it. I’ve not heard what he’s done at all. I don’t have any insider information. But he’s Kiefer Sutherland, so I can imagine what it’ll sound like and I’m sure it’ll be fine…whatever.”
Kojima has previously stated that they bought in Sutherland since they wanted to convey emotions not only through dialogue but through facial gestures as well, indicating that this is a creative decision. This obviously led some people to believe that Hayter is incapable to depict the madness that Big Boss will probably undergo in The Phantom Pain. However, Flynn believes that this is not the case.
“I an going to contradict you on that. David is an actor. Trust me, acting is acting is acting. Don’t let anyone tell you different. When you’re acting with voice, you have a certain set of skills. There’s acting from stage, which is big. There’s acting for TV which is smaller, there’s acting for film which is less because you have this, there’s far less to do. David could’ve done it, just quite as capable of a job. I believe it’s a business decision that has to do with commerce more than anything else. Because, ultimately it’s not going to be Kiefer’s face.
However, Flynn believes that Sutherland will deliver a capable performance in The Phantom Pain. “Kiefer, you may not know me, but I love you buddy. I’m a big fan, and I do also know Kiefer is a musician. He told me about the club he had, I don’t know if he still has it. Everything I’ve gotten from Kiefer as an actor and from interviews I’ve seen, he seems like a stand up guy, a genuine guy. I’m sure he’s going to do quite a capable performance. I don’t have any problem with him. It’s a decision that is above and beyond us, and that’s what happens in this business. I’ve replaced actors, actors have replaced me. It’s just a part of the game.”
Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain is due this September for the PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Do you guys think that Hayter is in the game? Sound files and mysterious tweets suggests so. Even Troy Baker, voice of Ocelot thinks it’s all going to make sense.
Sound off in the comments section below.
