Kiefer Sutherland, an actor best known for his role in the television series "24," will portray Snake in Konami's upcoming "Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain," according to the company's video statement.
"This time, with 'Metal Gear Solid V,' the themes are a little different from previous games in the series," said series creator Hideo Kojima in the webcast. "We're taking on some very heavy subjects such as race and revenge. I wanted Snake to have a more subdued performance, expressed through subtle facial movements and tone of voice rather than words."
Sutherland also participated in facial capture sessions for the game's animation. Game executives wanted an actor who could convincingly portray a more mature Snake.
"The game takes place in 1984, when Snake is 49 years old," Kojima said. "Therefore, we needed someone who could genuinely convey the facial and vocal qualities of a man in his late 40′s."
Sutherland replaces David Hayter, a voice actor who'd been the voice of Snake since the first "Metal Gear Solid" game in 1998. Hayter was not happy about the game publisher firing him from the role but agreed with the casting choice.
"Great actor, good man. The game will probably still be excellent," posted Hayter on Twitter in response to Konami's announcement.
Sutherland is a fan of the franchise character despite not being an avid gamer and told viewers of the video statement that he's honored to be able to play Snake.
"This character has an unbelievable legacy. There's a real personal quality to the character that I've connected to," Sutherland said in the video. "I'm not a gamer, and I even knew about this game. I was certainly keenly aware of the legacy of these games, the unbelievable success of these games."
Game publisher Konami will reportedly unveil more information about the new "Metal Gear Solid" series installment during E3 Expo, which begins on June 11.
