David Hayter comments on not voicing Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid V
David Hayter, voice actor of Snake, posted an update on his Twitter commenting on the recent news that he won’t be voicing Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. You can see the full post below.
METAL GEAR V
By
David Hayter
So,
Here’s a recap of events:
I have been up in Toronto, for the past eight months, directing my first film, (WOLVES — 2013, TF1/COPPERHEART). On the December break, I came home to Los Angeles for the holidays. I heard then, that recording sessions for MG:V were being put together.
But I didn’t hear anything about whether I’d be needed or not.
So, I got in touch with someone involved in the production. We got together for lunch, and he told me that they “wouldn’t be needing me” on this game. No reason, or explanation was given beyond that.
And that was it.
I drove home through Laurel Canyon, bummed, and thinking about Snake.
To be clear, I love being a part of the world of Metal Gear. I admire its technological innovations, the gameplay, the political message of it all. But primarily, I love the fans of these games. Two grown men burst into tears upon meeting me at the Vancouver Fan Expo last year.
Now that… Is a rare and excellent role. You know you’re making an impact.
And I love doing it.
In 1998, I tried to do come up with a voice which epitomized the kind of worn, put-upon, genetically-engineered clone-soldier that I saw Snake to be. Over time, as the games became more stunning and visually sophisticated, I tried to transition that initial voice into the increasingly real environments in which Snake found himself. My level of success is up to you, but any perceived deficiencies were not for lack of hard work. I have dedicated a huge amount of time and effort into creating a compelling character, capable of expressing the myriad emotional, physical and psychological hurdles that Snake has to face.
Anyway, now it’s been fifteen years, nine games, and an enormous blast to undertake.
If it were my choice, I would do this role forever. To hear anyone else’s voice coming from Snake’s battered throat, makes me a little ill, to be honest.
But the truth is — it’s not my choice. Any and all casting decisions are the sole purview of Hideo Kojima, and Konami itself. And that’s fair.
And I’ll get by. I am not lacking for employment on any level.
But I didn’t want anybody to think that I was intentionally abandoning them.
And know that I will miss this job, and this character, very much.
My best wishes to you all,
David Hayter
April 1, 2013
Keep in mind what day it is today. Since the announcement that David Hayter won’t be returning in this new installment, fans have started a petition asking to bring him back, which has over 8.000 supporters at the moment. Now some people are hoping that it’s all part of some big joke, as Kojima recently said in an interview that he thinks it’s important to mislead people in his trailers. Kojima did mention on his Twitter today he won’t be doing an April Fools Day joke this year, as he has done in previous years, due to lack of time. Then again, this too could be part of the joke. After the Moby Dick and Joakim Mogren stunt, it’s hard to know what to believe.
Update: David Hayter posted another Tweet on the subject:
https://twitter.com/DavidBHayter/status/318814794847244288
Source: David Hayter Twitter
