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

The latest trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has stirred excitement among fans, particularly due to the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil, whose character exudes a striking resemblance to Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima revealed the intricate process behind this casting decision in a detailed post on X/Twitter.

Kojima explained that during the global health crisis, he embarked on casting for Death Stranding 2, aiming to fill the role of Neil, a character intended to replace Cliff from the first game. The challenge was to find an actor who could meet, if not surpass, the high expectations set by Mads Mikkelsen's performance in the original game. Kojima's attention turned to Marinelli after being impressed by his role in the Italian film They Call Me Jeeg. Their connection deepened through the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden, leading to a direct correspondence where Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima's work, particularly his love for the Metal Gear series.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Further impressed by Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer to him, which was accepted after a discussion following Marinelli's completion of The Eight Mountains. Marinelli also introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, both actors underwent performance capture sessions, delivering performances that Kojima praised as exceptional, evident even in brief glimpses from the trailer.

Marinelli's portrayal of Neil has quickly become a highlight of the Death Stranding 2 trailer, culminating in a scene where Neil dons a bandanna in a manner reminiscent of Solid Snake, before commanding a squad of soldiers in a style akin to Cliff from the first game. This nod to Kojima's Metal Gear legacy has not gone unnoticed, with fans and critics alike drawing parallels between Neil and the iconic Solid Snake.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima's vision for Neil, including the iconic bandanna, was something he had contemplated since 2020, when he first mentioned Marinelli's potential resemblance to Solid Snake if he were to wear a bandanna. While Neil isn't a multiversal version of Snake, the imagery certainly evokes Kojima's storied history with the Metal Gear franchise. Fans are hopeful that Marinelli is the perfect fit for this crucial role.

For a deeper dive into Neil's character and its connections to Kojima's past works, 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 for release on June 26, 2025, and will be available exclusively on PlayStation 5.