In the kind of crossover that feels straight out of cinematic fate, Final Destination: Bloodlines directors Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein are stepping behind the camera for the first live-action adaptation of Hideo Kojima’s legendary video game series Metal Gear Solid.
It’s been a whirlwind ascent for the Canadian duo. Just twelve months ago, their return to the Final Destination franchise—released through Warner Bros. in 2025—defied expectations, earning over $317 million worldwide and marking the most successful, and best-reviewed, entry in the horror series’ history. That surprise triumph caught Hollywood’s attention in a big way.
Now, Sony Pictures has locked the pair into an expansive first-look deal across all its film divisions, from Columbia Pictures to TriStar. The agreement, made through their newly launched production shingle Wonderlab, will see them developing a variety of original projects as both directors and producers—what Sony describes as “wildly fun, commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films.”
“Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today,” said Sanford Panitch, President of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group. “With projects across all the company’s film labels, we are so happy to create a home for them, and proud to have them as part of the Sony family.”
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That home already includes some ambitious titles. The duo are currently directing an animated Venom feature for Sony Pictures Animation, developing the sci-fi epic The Earthling with Columbia Pictures, and collaborating with producers Eric Heisserer and Scott Glassgold.
For Lipovsky and Stein, the move to Sony has been both professional and personal. “We are honored to be partnering with the incredible executive team at Sony,” they said in a joint statement. “While working with several Sony teams in the last year, we’ve been blown away by the level of creativity, thoughtfulness, and passion we felt in every conversation. We share the vision that Tom, Sanford, Peter, Louie, Kristine and Damien, Ashley and the whole Sony team have for creating theatrical event films that entertain the world.”
When it comes to Metal Gear Solid, reverence runs deep. Kojima’s 1998 creation reshaped what storytelling in games could be—melding tactical espionage with cinematic language long before “narrative gameplay” became a buzzword. “Metal Gear Solid was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionized video games,” the duo said. “We are thrilled and honored to bring Hideo Kojima’s iconic characters and unforgettable world to life.”
The film will be produced by Avi Arad and Ari Arad, known for their comic-book adaptations and action blockbusters. Though casting and story details remain under wraps, the project represents a rare moment of convergence between Eastern gaming artistry and Western blockbuster filmmaking—a balance Kojima himself has spent decades exploring.
Outside the Metal Gear mission, Lipovsky and Stein continue to expand their portfolio of genre work. They’re in post-production on Freaks 2, following their acclaimed 2018 indie debut, and have scripts in development across major studios: a new Gremlins film at Warner Bros., a project titled Long Lost with Amblin and Universal, and The Traveler at Paramount.
