Kojima Casts Snake-alike for Death Stranding 2, Aims to Outdo 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 that evokes the spirit of Solid Snake from the *Metal Gear* series. Director Hideo Kojima shared insights into the casting process on X/Twitter, revealing that the role of Neil was intended to fill the shoes left by Mads Mikkelsen's character, Cliff, from the first *Death Stranding*. Kojima emphasized the need to surpass the impact of Mikkelsen's performance, a tall order indeed.

Kojima discovered Marinelli through his role in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg*. Their connection deepened around the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*, leading to a personal email from Marinelli, expressing his admiration for Kojima's work and his childhood memories of playing *Metal Gear*. This connection paved the way for Marinelli's casting after Kojima saw his performance in *The Old Guard* and subsequently reached out with an offer. Marinelli's enthusiasm extended to introducing his wife, Alissa Jung, for the role of Lucy in the game.

Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, Marinelli and Jung underwent performance capture, which Kojima praised for its quality even in the brief glimpses shown in the trailer. The casting process was not only about filling a role but also about capturing the essence of Kojima's vision, which was evident in Neil's iconic bandanna moment in the trailer—a clear nod to Solid Snake's style.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Neil's character, portrayed by Marinelli, has become a focal point of discussion following the trailer's release. The imagery of Neil donning a bandanna in a manner reminiscent of Solid Snake, and then directing soldiers akin to Cliff from the original game, has fans buzzing about the potential connections to Kojima's previous works.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima has been contemplating this casting decision for some time, noting in 2020 that Marinelli's resemblance to Solid Snake, especially when wearing a bandanna, was striking. While Neil isn't a direct reincarnation of Snake, the visual cues and thematic links to Kojima's *Metal Gear* legacy are unmistakable. Fans can look forward to seeing how this plays out when *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* launches on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.