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, most notably the casting of Luca Marinelli as Neil—a choice that's sparked considerable excitement due to the character's striking resemblance to Solid Snake. The casting process itself was particularly meticulous, as director Hideo Kojima aimed to find an actor who could surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's performance as Cliff in the first Death Stranding.

Kojima's discovery of Marinelli began with the Italian actor's role in They Call Me Jeeg. Their connection deepened following the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden, where Marinelli proactively reached out to Kojima via email, expressing his admiration for the director and his work on the Metal Gear series.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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After seeing Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer. Following Marinelli's completion of The Eight Mountains, the two collaborated, with Marinelli subsequently introducing his wife, Alissa Jung, to Kojima for another role. Their performance capture sessions, conducted amidst the pandemic, were reportedly exceptional, with Kojima praising their on-set work.

Marinelli's portrayal of Neil is a standout element of the new trailer. The scene featuring Neil sporting a bandanna, reminiscent of Solid Snake, and commanding troops in a style similar to Cliff from the first game, has generated significant buzz.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima's vision for Marinelli in the role, particularly the bandanna imagery, dates back to 2020, when he publicly commented on Marinelli's resemblance to Solid Snake. While Neil is unlikely to be a Snake variant, the visual parallels are undeniable and evoke Kojima's Metal Gear legacy.

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