With the Splinter Cell remake officially greenlit, there has been speculation who will don the signature goggles and voice Sam Fisher. Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell is one of the most iconic stealth-action shooters that revolutionized the stealth genre. From the use of the Unreal Engine to create immersive levels to its gripping narrative by American author Tom Clancy, Splinter Cell at the time was one of Ubisoft's flagship titles.

Moreover, the performance of series veteran and method actor Michael Ironside instantly made Sam Fisher an iconic character and a primary pillar in gaming. However, Ironside left the franchise in Splinter Cell: Blacklist passing on the goggles to Eric Johnson. While Johnson's voice and motion capture performance elevated the game's production and narrative, it didn't have the same spark that Ironside brought to the table. The change was so jarring that Ubisoft shelved Splinter Cell proper for years. With the Splinter Cell remake in development, will Ironside return as Sam Fisher, and has Ubisoft learned from its past?

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On the outside, Ironside's return seems only a matter of time as he showed interest in returning. Moreover, he reprised his role as Sam Fisher in the Ghost Recon games, Wildlands and Breakpoint. His inclusion reflected some growth in Ubisoft's handling of legacy roles and characters. However, it's not beyond the realm of possibility of recasting Ironside as it's not only been done in other Ubisoft properties but other games of the same genre.

Will The Original Sam Fisher, Michael Ironside, Return In The Splinter Cell Remake?

Sam Fisher in Ghost Recon: Wildlands

In the Splinter Cell remake announcement, everything seems to be remaining true to the game's foundation and the core mechanics; however, Ubisoft making a new Splinter Cell game is still a dangerous road. Besides Eric Johnson in Blacklist, Jeff Teravainen voices Sam, aka Zero, in Rainbow Six: Siege, a reboot of another Ubisoft franchise. In an adjacent game of the same genre, Metal Gear Solid V would recast series veteran David Hayter in both Ground Zeroes and The Phantom Pain for Kiefer Sutherland. One of the main reasons for the recast was simply the desire to recreate the series while bringing in someone that can utilize new performance capture technology.

The utilization of new technology was behind Blacklist and one of the reasons why Ironside passed the mantle to Johnson. It's difficult not to see how recent Tom Clancy games are pointless, losing what made their identity unique. The Splinter Cell remake will also likely utilize new technologies, but what liberties, be it recasting or game mechanics, are taken is still early to tell.

Undoubtedly, Michael Ironside is Sam Fisher. His performance and how he approaches the role as a method actor elevates the Splinter Cell games to new heights. However, the remake is in the earliest stages of development, and Ironside may be recast once again. Whatever the case, the Splinter Cell remake could usher in the return of the real Sam Fisher.

Next: Every Non-Splinter Cell Game Sam Fisher Cameos In