David Hayter Interview - TUS Exclusive

The voice actor of both Solid Snake and Naked Snake goes one on one with TUS's very own Brian Barnes-Spencer about voice acting, screenwriting, directing, and more!

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): David, it's a pleasure to get the chance to talk with you again, from me and on behalf of all of our readers, thank you for taking the time to do this interview!

David Hayter: My pleasure.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): First of all, how did Konami approach you to voice the "Naked Snake" character in Snake Eater?

David Hayter: Pretty much the same as the other games. They called me and we made a deal.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): What were your thoughts when you found out you wouldn't be voicing Solid Snake in this title, but rather his father Big Boss?

David Hayter: I thought that was very cool. It’s almost cooler than Snake himself, because Snake is basically a clone, and it was interesting to go back and see where this man came from. At the same time, you are basically playing the same character, but with different life experiences. I actually thought that playing Big Boss would mean that I would be playing a true battle hardened bad-ass, but it was even cooler to discover that this was Snake at the beginning, on his way to becoming a legendary soldier. I loved the third game.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Rumor has it that Konami originally wanted to have another voice actor do this character since it was not Solid Snake, but that Hideo Kojima personally requested both the English and Japanese voice actors of Solid to also voice Naked Snake. Do you know if there's any truth to this?

David Hayter: I couldn’t say. That’s the first I’ve heard that.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): What was it like recording with a completely new cast for the third installment? Did you miss recording with some of the regulars you had come to know in the previous recordings?

David Hayter: The new cast was great. They hired some really talented and interesting actors. But I did miss the banter with Otacon.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): The voice in Snake Eater sounds even more gravelly than in the previous two titles, was this something that was done on purpose to give the character more of his own identity? Is there anything else you did to try to separate this character from Solid Snake in the previous games?

David Hayter: My voice is more gravelly because I don’t do much voice work any more, and it is tougher get to that place vocally. The real difference that I tried to play up was that Snake in the first two games was an experienced soldier, where Naked snake was a little newer to the game, so to speak. A little more innocent. At least, as innocent as Snake can get.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Which game have you enjoyed working on most?

David Hayter: They were all great to work on, but I have to say I enjoyed playing this one the most.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Was this new game, going back in time to experience the story of a young Big Boss an idea you liked? Did you prefer it over the previous two?

David Hayter: Very much. I loved the first game, and I was a little confused by the second, but the atmosphere, story, everything came together for the third game.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Aside from the character of Naked Snake/Big Boss, who was your favourite character in this title? Who was your favourite actor/actress to work with in recording?

David Hayter: I had a great time with Eva, Paramedic and Major Tom. Also, the kid playing young Ocelot was really good. I guess his character’s story-line was my favourite.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Changing subjects just a little bit, when you went back to record the voice work for "The Twin Snakes", the remake of the original "Metal Gear Solid", is there anything you can think of that stands out as a great improvement over the original?

David Hayter: You know, I don’t remember a lot of the changes made, and I had already played the first game quite a bit by the time the Nintendo version came out. My preference was to keep it as close to the original as possible, so that it didn’t feel like a knock-off game.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Many of the changes to dialogue were looked at as unnecessary by many fans, as well as some of the changes in accents to certain characters, was this something you agree with?

David Hayter: Yeah, I don’t know why they did some of those things. They don’t really talk to me about the writing.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): There was a financial issue between Konami and the voice actors prior to recording of Twin Snakes, is this anything that you're able, or willing to talk about? It seems to have given Konami a bad name among some of the series fans.

David Hayter: There was some initial discussion as to whether or not to use the original actors again, myself included. But Konami never did anything wrong. In fact, in the end, they hired the whole cast back and were very generous. It was a little more expensive, but I think it really adds value to “The Twin Snakes” to have the original cast. It confirms that we take the reality of this world seriously.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): In a past interview Christian Bale hinted that a Metal Gear movie was currently in the works and that he would take the role of the lead character Solid Snake. It was also said that you would have something to do with this film. Can you confirm or elaborate on any of this?

David Hayter: I hadn’t heard that about Christian Bale, but he certainly fits the role. I am friends with the Producers, and we have spoken about my working on a Metal Gear screenplay. I would love to do it, as I know this Universe and character very well, but it all comes down to schedule. I am supposed to begin shooting “Black Widow” for Marvel and Lion’s Gate this fall, and the last I heard, there was still some legal wrangling regarding the MGS movie. If it comes together, I am hoping to be available.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): How would you personally get around some of the obstacles of a Metal Gear film? For example the codec, obviously this is the major component which wouldn't work in a film. The gameplay is another, is it safe to assume some other characters would have to have a little more screen time to compromise with snake going from place-to-place?

David Hayter: As far as gameplay replication, I think you would be looking at a movie where you follow the character all the way through, as they encounter villains and allies, and the other characters of the world (Sort of like “The Wizard of Oz”, with Snake as Dorothy. And Otacon as Toto.) You could work in the codec, but it’s primarily just an information tool, so maybe the Director will come up with a cool visual way to present a walkie-talkie that plays in someone’s head. Anything is possible.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): An upcoming film which you've most likely nearly completed all your work on is the "Iron Man" film. Was was it like doing the screenplay for this film?

David Hayter: It was a blast. Tony Stark is a great character, and because he’s so rich, you have a huge world for him to play in. This is a movie that easily lends itself to major, jaw-dropping sequences, of which I can tell you nothing. Like the scene where they are testing the suit and – Oh, wait. Yeah, I can’t tell you any of that. But it’s very, very cool.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): How does the film appear to be coming along so far?

David Hayter: They are still at the point of hiring a director as far as I know.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): A project we were made aware as possibly seeing you direct was "The Watchmen", however Paul Greengrass is now listed as the director. What happened with this?

David Hayter: Well, I’ve spent over four years of my life trying to get Watchmen made, and it is so huge that it was understandably difficult to get a studio to give a hundred million dollars to a first-time director. So, after our third studio put us into turnaround, I stepped aside as Director.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Are you still writing the screenplay for this film?

David Hayter: Absolutely. This is my dream film, and Paul is an amazing Director. I would very much like to see this incredible story on screen.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): When should we expect to see this out? It looks as if it's running a little behind schedule?

David Hayter: That‘s up in the air, you’ll have to ask the studio.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Rumour has it that you'll also be directing, and writing the movie "Black Widow"? Is this true?

David Hayter: Yes.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): What is this film about?

David Hayter: The Black Widow.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): How much work has been done thus far, and how much is still to be done?

David Hayter: I have been working on the script for about a year and a half, and I am very happy with it. It follows the Widow from birth to present day. It takes her from the Soviet Union, to the States, and then back into present day Kazakhstan. It is very timely, and as her life crumbles around her, the same is happening to the world. Basically, I am taking Natasha Romanov into the mountains of Tora Bora.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): With your schedule getting tighter, have we seen the last of your writing in the X-Men series?

David Hayter: Unfortunately, yes.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Would you like to continue work on this series, or would you rather move on with other things?

David Hayter: I would have loved to have written the third movie, as Bryan Singer and I had many discussions about the full course of the story. Unfortunately, the studio and I had a bit of a falling out. But I hope the third movie will be great, and it sounds like they are taking their lead from the first two.

Brian Barnes-Spencer, (MGS:TUS): Again David thank you for your time with this, and are there any closing comments you would like to add for your fans?

David Hayter: Thank you. George Bush is a weiner.

-- Interview by Brian Barnes-Spencer, Metal Gear Solid: The Unofficial Site