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

The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has stirred up excitement among fans, especially with the introduction of a character that echoes the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. This casting choice involved a meticulous process, as director Hideo Kojima sought to find an actor who could outshine the memorable performance from the first game. Kojima detailed the journey of casting Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil, a character pivotal to the sequel, designed to fill the shoes of Cliff from the original *Death Stranding*.

In a detailed post on X/Twitter, Kojima shared how he first noticed Marinelli's talent in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg*. Their connection deepened during the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*, leading to an email exchange where Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima's work, particularly the Metal Gear series. "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," Marinelli wrote.

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. Following a conversation after Marinelli completed filming *The Eight Mountains*, the actor agreed to join the project. Marinelli also introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy. "We did their scan and pcap [performance capture] during the height of the pandemic, but their on-set performance was excellent," Kojima remarked. He praised the duo's commitment, especially since they agreed to participate without a full script in hand.

Neil, played by Marinelli, has become a highlight of the *Death Stranding 2* trailer. The character dons a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and commands a squad of soldiers much like Cliff did in the first game. This visual homage to Kojima's Metal Gear legacy has fans buzzing, even though Neil isn't a multiversal version of Snake.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima has been contemplating this casting and the bandanna imagery since 2020, when he noted, "I think if he donned a bandanna, he'd be a spitting image of Solid Snake!" While Neil isn't a direct connection to the Metal Gear universe, the visual cues are a nod to Kojima's storied past. Fans can look forward to seeing how Marinelli embodies this crucial role when *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* launches on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.