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, sparking considerable excitement, particularly surrounding the casting of Luca Marinelli as Neil. His character’s striking resemblance to Solid Snake has generated significant buzz. The casting process itself proved intriguing, as director Hideo Kojima aimed to surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen’s performance as Cliff in the first Death Stranding.

Kojima detailed the casting process on X/Twitter, explaining that he discovered Marinelli through his role in *They Call Me Jeeg*. Further correspondence arose during the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*. Marinelli proactively contacted Kojima, expressing his fandom and admiration. After seeing Marinelli in *The Old Guard*, Kojima extended an offer, and subsequent discussions took place after Marinelli completed filming *The Eight Mountains*. Marinelli readily agreed and, recognizing Kojima's search for an actress to portray Lucy, introduced his wife, Alissa Jung, to the director.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Kojima noted the exceptional performance capture work conducted during the pandemic, highlighting the quality evident even in the brief trailer glimpses. He expressed gratitude to both Marinelli and Jung for their commitment, especially given the lack of a complete script at the time.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Marinelli’s portrayal of Neil, a standout element of the trailer, showcases him sporting a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake from *Metal Gear Solid*, commanding soldiers in a style echoing Cliff from the first *Death Stranding*. Kojima’s earlier comments from 2020, predicting Marinelli's striking resemblance to Solid Snake in a bandanna, further underscore the deliberate casting choice.

While Neil’s connection to Snake remains speculative, the visual parallels undeniably evoke Kojima’s *Metal Gear* legacy. The choice of Marinelli appears well-considered. For a deeper dive, see IGN's article: "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.