David Hayter on Metal Gear Solid 5: Another voice for Snake ‘makes me ill’

David Hayter, long time voice of Snake/Big Boss in the English versions of Metal Gear Solid, is not too happy hearing another man voice his character. In fact, it makes him "ill," according to his latest Twitter post in which he described how he wasn't even asked about coming back for the new Metal Gear Solid 5 game.

"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," Hayter explained.

"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," he said, echoing sentiments we heard last week. Hayter's comments come not long after series creator Hideo Kojima explained they were attempting to "re-create the Metal Gear series."

"To be clear, I love being a part of the world of Metal Gear," Hayter went on to say, recounting an experience in which two grown men burst into tears upon meeting him at a fan expo last year. "Now that… Is a rare and excellent role. You know you’re making an impact.  And I love doing it."

"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," he admitted. "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."

"But I didn’t want anybody to think that I was intentionally abandoning them," Hayter concluded. "And know that I will miss this job, and this character, very much."

As it was explained last week, The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes are combining to make up the new Metal Gear Solid 5 game. Both parts will be playable on existing consoles (Xbox 360 and PS3), but it has not been explained how they will be sold and distributed. It seems like both games will be released separately, but we're still waiting for confirmation.