David Hayter Not Returning for Metal Gear Solid V?

David Hayter, voice-actor and screenwriter has announced that he will not be reprising the role of Big Boss or Solid Snake in the next Metal Gear Solid installment.  This comes as tragic news to fans as David Hayter has been the voice of the leading character for over a decade.  Starting with Metal Gear Solid in 1998, Hayter has voiced Solid Snake, Naked Snake, or Big Boss in eight titles if you count the Gamecube remake and Super Smash Bros.

Hayter said recently that he never was approached for the role, and has been informed that he isn't needed.  As a fan of Metal Gear Solid, and Hideo Kojima in general, this news might not be taken for face value.  Kojima has a record of tricking everyone until the last minutes.  For those of you who do not know, Metal Gear Solid 2 was advertised with Solid Snake as the main character, but it turns out he is only the make character for the first part of the game, then you are in control of a totally new character never mentioned before.

The speculation doesn't stop there, in February 2012 Konami announced their next Metal Gear Solid title, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes.  All Kojima would say about the game was that it will feature Big Boss and serve as a prologue to another title.

Fast forward ten months to December.  A game called Phantom Pains in announced.  While being made by a Swedish developer, Moby Dick Studio, the protagonist resembled Big Boss.  The similarities do not stop there.  Two weeks before the announcement, a domain name was registered for the game called "Joakim", which is clearly an anagram for Konami.  Kojima also said he was impressed by the game, and it clearly drew inspiration from Metal Gear.

Konami has announced that these two games are one in the same.  Not many details are known besides this lengthy trailer.

Now there is always a chance Hayter isn't returning because Big Boss really won't be in much of the game right?  Well they hired back the Japanese voice actor for Snake, just not Hayter.  There is still a lot of speculation around this, but I highly doubt that David Hayter will not be returning is there is a "snake" in the game.  I guess we'll find out!

David Hayter is voice actor and screenwriter, now turned movie director, who has voice multiple characters in the Metal Gear series as well as Captain America on various TV and video games opportunities.  He is also an established screenwriter, working on X-Men, X2, Watchmen, and the Scorpion King.  His directorial debut, Wolves, is being released sometime this year.