The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has sparked excitement with its reveal of new details, particularly the casting of a character reminiscent of Solid Snake from the *Metal Gear* series. Director Hideo Kojima shared insights into the casting process for Italian actor Luca Marinelli, who plays the character Neil in the game. Kojima noted that Neil is set to fill the significant role that Cliff, played by Mads Mikkelsen, had in the original *Death Stranding*. The director aimed to find an actor who could surpass the impact of Mikkelsen's performance.
Kojima discovered Marinelli through his role in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg* and their communication began during the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*. Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima, stating in an email, "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." After seeing Marinelli in *The Old Guard*, Kojima extended an offer, which the actor accepted following the completion of *The Eight Mountains*. Marinelli also introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who plays Lucy in the game.
Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots
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Kojima praised the performances of Marinelli and Jung, noting that their performance captures during the peak of the pandemic were outstanding. "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," Kojima said. The trailer showcases Neil in a striking scene where he dons a bandanna, reminiscent of Solid Snake, and commands a squad of soldiers, echoing Cliff's role in the first game.
Death Stranding 2 Cast
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The imagery of Marinelli donning the bandanna has been on Kojima's mind since 2020, when he mentioned, "I think if he donned a bandanna, he'd be a spitting image of Solid Snake!" While Neil isn't a multiversal version of Snake, the visual cues undoubtedly evoke Kojima's iconic *Metal Gear* series. Hopefully, Marinelli is the perfect choice for this pivotal role. For more insights, explore 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 for the PlayStation 5.
