“Metal Gear Solid” Movie Coming From “Final Destination” Duo Adam B. Stein & Zach Lipovsky

Adam B. Stein and Zach Lipovsky officially made the jump from indie horror helmers to studio releases when their film Final Destination: Bloodlines was released by New Line Cinema. After Bloodlines soaked up a sizable box office return and became the franchise’s highest-grossing and most critically acclaimed film, Stein and Lipovsky became in demand, and now they’re headed to Sony Pictures after signing an expansive first-look deal covering all of the studio’s film labels.

That deal includes directing Columbia Pictures’ adaptation of the hit video game Metal Gear Solid, created by Hideo Kojima, a stealth-combat game that melds the spy and sci-fi genres. It’ll mark the first time Kojima’s game franchise has been adapted. Stein and Lipovsky will direct, with Avi and Ari Arad producing.

“Metal Gear Solid was nothing short of a groundbreaking cinematic masterpiece that forever revolutionized video games,” Stein and Lipovsky said in a statement. “We are thrilled and honored to bring Hideo Kojima’s iconic characters and unforgettable world to life.”

The deal brings in their newly launched company, Wonderlab, which will develop films and original projects for the duo to direct and produce for other directors. Wonderlab’s mission is to create commercial, character-driven, genre-bending films designed as crowd-pleasing, theater-filling experiences.

Stein and Lipovsky were already developing projects for Sony, including the original sci-fi epic The Earthling for Columbia, which they will direct, as well as an animated Venom film for Sony Pictures Animation, which they’ll also helm.

“Zach and Adam are thrilling storytellers, masters of visuals and suspense, and two of the most impressive director/producers working today,” said Sony Pictures’ Motion Picture Group President Sanford Panitch in a statement. “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.”

Stein and Lipovsky first met 17 years ago, not as collaborators but as competitors, on Steven Spielberg’s reality show On The Lot, which, as you can guess, was all about filmmaking. Now, they’re among the busiest filmmakers in town. They’ve written a new Gremlins feature for Warner Bros., are working on the film Long Lost with Spielberg’s Amblin and Universal, and are developing the film The Traveler at Paramount.

“We are honored to be partnering with the incredible executive team at Sony,” said Lipovsky and Stein. “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, Damien, Ashley, and the whole Sony team have for creating theatrical event films that entertain the world.”

Featured image: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – MAY 12: Directors Adam B. Stein (L) and Zach Lipovsky seen at New Line Cinema’s “Final Destination: Bloodlines” World Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre on May 12, 2025 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Warner Bros. via Getty Images)