Alan Ritchson Teases Solid Snake Role in ‘Metal Gear Solid’ After ‘War Machine’

‘The Dream’: Alan Ritchson Teases Solid Snake Role in ‘Metal Gear Solid’ After ‘War Machine’ Success

LOS ANGELES — Is the world’s most famous stealth operative about to be played by Hollywood's biggest "wrecking crew"? Following the explosive No. 1 debut of his Netflix sci-fi epic War Machine, Alan Ritchson has set the internet ablaze by revealing his "dream role": Solid Snake in the long-gestating live-action Metal Gear Solid movie.

The Reacher star took to Instagram on Monday 16th March to share a piece of fan art by the renowned BossLogic, which reimagines his War Machine character as the iconic FOXHOUND operative. Ritchson’s caption was short but deafening to fans: “The Dream. Next, La Li Lu Le Lo?”

The Audition Tape That Already Happened?

For many fans, Ritchson’s performance in War Machine, which topped Netflix charts in 93 countries this week with nearly 40 million views served as a de facto audition for Hideo Kojima’s legendary franchise.

In the film, Ritchson plays Candidate 81, a stoic, hyper-capable soldier who leads a squad against an "unimaginable" mechanical threat. Critics have noted that the film’s blend of tactical military realism and high-concept sci-fi feels like a spiritual successor to the Metal Gear universe.

“If you’ve seen the way Alan moves in War Machine, the way he handles the tactical gear and the sheer physicality he brings to the screen, he is Snake,” one viral post on X noted. “We’ve been waiting a decade for this movie to move out of development hell; Ritchson is the engine that can get it across the finish line.”

Navigating Development Hell

While Ritchson’s interest has sent fan enthusiasm to a fever pitch, the road to a Metal Gear Solid film remains notoriously stealthy.

• The Long Wait: A live-action adaptation has been in development at Sony Pictures for over a decade, with director Jordan Vogt-Roberts (Kong: Skull Island) long attached to helm.

• The Oscar Isaac Factor: In 2020, Oscar Isaac was officially cast as Solid Snake. However, as of March 2026, the project has seen little public movement, leading to rumors that the role may be open once again as schedules shift and the DCU claims more of Isaac’s time.

[Table: Alan Ritchson’s 2026 Power Slate]

“La Li Lu Le Lo”: A Hidden Message?

Ritchson’s use of the phrase “La Li Lu Le Lo”, the cypher used to refer to the shadowy organization The Patriots in Metal Gear lore—suggests he isn’t just a casual fan of the look, but a deep-dive enthusiast of the story’s dense political philosophy.

This aligns with recent comments the actor made while promoting War Machine, where he criticized the "invincibility" of modern superhero movies. Ritchson stated he prefers characters who are "hanging on by a thread" and face visceral, human consequences, a core tenet of Solid Snake’s character arc.

The Battle for the Axe

Interestingly, Snake isn't the only "God" Ritchson is being linked to. Fan casting for Amazon’s God of War series has also reached a boiling point, with a brief (and since-deleted) IMDb leak last week listing Ritchson as Kratos.

Whether he ends up wielding the Leviathan Axe or a SOCOM pistol with a silencer, one thing is clear: 2026 is the year Alan Ritchson proved he has the "boulder-shouldered energy" to carry any franchise he chooses.