Kojima Casts Snake-Like Actor for Death Stranding 2 to Outdo Mikkelsen

The latest trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has sent fans into a frenzy, particularly due to the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as the character Neil, whose appearance and demeanor strikingly echo the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima has shared insights into the casting process, revealing his ambition to find someone who could outshine the memorable performance of Mads Mikkelsen as Cliff in the original Death Stranding.

In a detailed post on X/Twitter, Kojima recounted his journey to casting Marinelli. He first noticed the actor in the Italian film They Call Me Jeeg and later through the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden. The connection deepened when Marinelli reached out to Kojima via email, expressing his admiration for the Metal Gear series and his honor at Kojima's interest in his work.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Kojima's interest in Marinelli solidified after seeing him in The Old Guard. He extended an offer to Marinelli, who accepted after wrapping up The Eight Mountains. During their discussions, Marinelli introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy. Both underwent performance capture during the peak of the pandemic, delivering impressive performances despite the lack of a complete script.

"Even the brief glimpses in the trailer showcase their excellent on-set performance," Kojima noted, expressing gratitude to Marinelli and Jung for their commitment.

Neil, portrayed by Marinelli, has become a highlight of the Death Stranding 2 trailer. The character's final scene, where he dons a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and commands a squad of soldiers in a style similar to Cliff from the first game, has sparked significant interest and speculation among fans.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima's vision for Neil, including the iconic bandanna, has been in the works since 2020. He once remarked, "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 undeniably nod to Kojima's storied history with the Metal Gear franchise.

For a deeper dive into this casting choice and its implications, check out 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 slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.