Hideo Kojima Says He Cast His Solid Snake-alike for Death Stranding 2 To Try and Surpass Mads Mikkelsen

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s latest trailer unveiled a wealth of new information, including a casting choice that has generated significant buzz due to the character's striking resemblance to Solid Snake. The selection process, as detailed by director Hideo Kojima on X/Twitter, involved a search for an actor who could surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's performance in the first Death Stranding.

Kojima's journey to casting Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil began during the pandemic. He initially discovered Marinelli through They Call Me Jeeg, and their connection deepened following the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden. Marinelli proactively contacted Kojima, expressing his admiration for the director and his work on Metal Gear.

After witnessing Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer. Following the completion of The Eight Mountains, Marinelli accepted, and subsequently introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, for the role of Lucy. Their performance capture sessions, conducted during the pandemic, impressed Kojima with their quality.

Neil's character has emerged as a standout from the trailer, particularly his iconic bandanna moment reminiscent of Solid Snake, and his command of soldiers echoing Cliff from the first game. Kojima's fascination with Marinelli's potential to embody a Snake-like figure dates back to 2020, when he publicly mused about Marinelli's striking resemblance to the legendary Metal Gear Solid character if he wore a bandanna.

While Neil's connection to Solid Snake remains speculative, the visual parallels are undeniable, sparking further interest in Kojima's latest project. For a deeper dive into this casting choice and the game's overall Metal Gear-esque feel, 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," provides further insight.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Death Stranding 2 Cast

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