Kojima Casts Snake-Like Actor for Death Stranding 2, Aims to Outshine Mikkelsen

The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has stirred excitement among fans, particularly with the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil, a character whose appearance and demeanor echo the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima shared insights into the casting process on X/Twitter, revealing the lengths he went to find an actor who could outshine Mads Mikkelsen's performance as Cliff in the original *Death Stranding*.

Kojima first noticed Marinelli in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg* and later connected with him during the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*. In a heartfelt email, Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima's work, stating, "I grew up with Metal Gear. I am a big fan of yours. I am very honored that you saw the film I starred in. I wanted to tell you this directly." This personal connection played a significant role in his casting.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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After witnessing Marinelli's performance in *The Old Guard*, Kojima extended an offer to him. They conducted performance capture during the peak of the pandemic, and Kojima praised the results, saying, "You can see that in the digitized results from even the small bits of the trailer. I can only thank Luca and Alissa for agreeing to perform when we didn't even have a script yet." Marinelli also introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy.

Neil's character has become a highlight of the new trailer, especially with the striking scene where he dons a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and commands a squad of soldiers, much like Cliff did in the first game. This imagery has fueled speculation about the character's connection to Kojima's past work with the Metal Gear series.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima's vision for Neil, including the bandanna, has been in the works since 2020, when he remarked, "I think if he donned a bandanna, he'd be a spitting image of Solid Snake!" While Neil isn't a direct homage to Solid Snake, the visual cues certainly nod to Kojima's legacy with the Metal Gear franchise. Fans are eager to see if Marinelli can live up to the high expectations set by this casting choice.

For a deeper dive into this topic, check out IGN's feature, "Who Is Kojima’s New ‘Solid Snake’ and Why Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the Closest We’ll Ever Get to Another Metal Gear Solid."

*Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* is scheduled to launch on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.