The Scene Drift

Saturday at the London ExCeL lived up to its reputation as the busiest day of the weekend, with a massive surge of fans filling the halls for the May 2026 edition. If Friday was about the initial buzz, Saturday was about the heavy hitters, featuring a lineup that bridged the gap between epic high fantasy and legendary stealth gaming.  

From screenplay bombshells to the selfless acts of Solid Snake, here is the breakdown of the biggest moments from Day 2.

1. Brandon Sanderson Reveals Mistborn Movie Progress & Hoid Casting

High fantasy titan Brandon Sanderson took to the Main Stage for a massive spotlight on his career, and he didn’t show up empty-handed. For fans of the Cosmere, the biggest news was a definitive update on the long-awaited Mistborn and Stormlight Archive adaptations.  

Sanderson confirmed he has taken the driver’s seat on the Mistborn screenplay to ensure it stays true to the books, dropping a major timeline update:  

"I'm working on the screenplay right now, in fact I plan to turn in the first pages in the next week. So wish me luck."

When the Q&A turned to dream casting for Hoid—the mysterious figure who pops up across his various book series—Sanderson finally put a name to the face he sees in his head: Paul Bettany. He also shared his goal for the movie's score, aiming for a classic orchestral feel in the vein of John Williams.  

For those waiting on more "Rock" content, Sanderson teased that a dedicated novella for the Stormlight character is on his list, though he’s currently juggling about 70 other projects.  

2. Metal Gear Solid: David Hayter’s Pay Cut for the Fans

Over on the Side Quest Stage, David Hayter (Solid Snake) and Cam Clarke (Liquid Snake) looked back on the legacy of Metal Gear Solid. In a moment that brought the house down, Hayter revealed just how far he went to protect the original cast during the development of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.  

When the studio wanted to replace the original actors to save money, Hayter stepped in with a selfless offer:

"I reduced my offer for Metal Gear Solid 2 in order to bring back the full cast... I told them, 'take this much money off my offer, split it up, and bring back the original cast.'"

Both actors also spent time praising the "cinematic" genius of Hideo Kojima’s writing and admitted they were genuinely moved by the "intimate stories" fans have shared with them over the decades.  

3. Hitman: A Corporate Fluke & The Blade Runner Connection

The stealth vibes continued with David Bateson (Agent 47) and Jane Perry (Diana Burnwood) discussing the Hitman franchise. Bateson’s story of how he landed the role of the world’s most famous assassin is the definition of "right place, right time."  

"In the middle of a recording for a corporate voiceover, this guy came in and interrupted the session and was looking for a voice."

  

Bateson took the gig on a whim, but he was immediately sold when he saw the early concepts for the game, noting that the graphics and atmosphere reminded him of Blade Runner.  

Jane Perry also highlighted the growing female fanbase for the series, explaining that she sees Diana Burnwood as a champion and a role model for fans who connect with her cool, calculated leadership in a male-dominated industry.  

MCM London enters its final day tomorrow, with panels for Death Note and a massive spotlight with Nathan Fillion still to come. Stay tuned for our full Sunday wrap-up!