Metal Gear Solid's David Hayter Reflects on Unexpected Ford Collaboration

David Hayter, the acclaimed voice actor best known for bringing Solid Snake to life in Konami's legendary Metal Gear Solid series, recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most unexpected crossovers in gaming and advertising history.

Back in 2016, fans were surprised to see Snake appear in a national commercial for the Ford Focus SE—an unconventional move that captured the attention of both automotive and gaming audiences. The collaboration resulted from a fusion of fandom and opportunity.

According to a statement Hayter made via Twitter, he was initially approached by producers who not only admired his work but were also dedicated followers of the Metal Gear franchise.

'I was involved as a voice actor for a Ford commercial, and the producers happened to be enthusiastic fans of Snake,' Hayter explained.

'They asked, "If we received the green light from Konami to feature Snake in the ad, would you participate?" I agreed, convinced there was no chance it would actually happen.

To my surprise, it became a reality, and I found myself committed to the project.' For a significant portion of fans and industry veterans, David Hayter remains synonymous with the iconic identity of Solid Snake and Naked Snake.

He commenced his performance as Snake with the release of Metal Gear Solid for the original PlayStation in 1998—a title that would go on to influence the stealth-action genre and become one of Konami's most celebrated franchises.

Hayter reprised his role through several critical entries, including Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, continuing up until 2010's Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for PlayStation Portable.

In a notable shift for the series, Hayter was replaced by actor Kiefer Sutherland for Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain, released on multiple platforms. Beyond his impactful contributions to video game voice acting, Hayter boasts a diverse portfolio as an actor, screenwriter, director, and producer.

He starred in the 1994 live-action film Guyver: Dark Hero, based on Yoshiki Takaya’s acclaimed manga.

Additionally, he has provided voice acting for anime series such as Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket and Hayao Miyazaki's The Castle of Cagliostro. The story of Hayter's unexpected involvement in the Ford commercial offers a unique testament to the cultural influence of Metal Gear Solid and its enduring characters, as well as the strong connections that exist between gaming professionals and their fans.

The commercial stands out as a memorable chapter in the history of cross-industry collaborations and highlights Hayter’s lasting legacy within the video game industry.

Metal Gear Metal Gear Solid Snake David David Hayter Konami Solid Snake Ford PlayStation