Hideo Kojima will make furry criminals regret their words and deeds as a mole who is also a cop in Zootopia 2

Hideo Kojima at the HMV Oxford Street in London, United Kingdom.
(Image credit: James Quinton/WireImage)

Hideo Kojima has a new side-hustle: voice acting. Weary of finding new ways to put Norman Reedus in videogames, the Metal Gear and Death Stranding creator is trying life on the other side of the (sort of) camera. He will be a large mole, which is also a name that could be in Metal Gear.

No, really. Per Mantanweb (translated by Automaton), Kojima will serve as the voice of Officer Paul Moledebrandt, the finest and presumably most visually disadvantaged member of the cop shop in the Japanese dub of Zootopia 2. Sure. Why not?

"I’ve had many cameo appearances in live-action films and games, but this is my first experience dubbing for an animated theatrical film. And it’s from Disney, of all places!" said Kojima. "What’s more, it’s the sequel to my favourite film, Zootopia! On top of that, I received an offer directly from director Jared Bush, so I was extremely honoured and accepted without hesitation."

Putting aside for one second that I do not remotely believe Zootopia is Hideo Kojima's favourite film—though he does call it "the pinnacle of Disney's filmmaking", so what do I know?— he sure does seem genuinely chuffed about being in the sequel.

Hideo Kojima in Brighton, 2016.

Kojima reflects on mole crimes. (Image credit: Future)

Anyway, Zootopia 2's Japanese version hits theatres a few days from now, on December 5. "Since I’m usually on the directing side, actually experiencing acting myself taught me a lot." You heard it here first: cop-moles a dead cert for Physint and/or OD.

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Joshua Wolens
News Writer

One of Josh's first memories is of playing Quake 2 on the family computer when he was much too young to be doing that, and he's been irreparably game-brained ever since. His writing has been featured in Vice, Fanbyte, and the Financial Times. He'll play pretty much anything, and has written far too much on everything from visual novels to Assassin's Creed. His most profound loves are for CRPGs, immersive sims, and any game whose ambition outstrips its budget. He thinks you're all far too mean about Deus Ex: Invisible War.

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