Kojima Productions recently unveiled an exciting 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, sparking a wave of interest among fans. The trailer not only brings back familiar faces like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux but also introduces a compelling new character portrayed by Luca Marinelli. This Italian actor, best known to international audiences for his role as Nicky in Netflix's "The Old Guard," steps into the shoes of Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Who is Luca Marinelli playing in Death Stranding 2? ---------------------------------------------------In Death Stranding 2, Luca Marinelli embodies the character Neil, who we first encounter in an intense interrogation scene. Here, Neil is accused of crimes and claims to be merely doing the "dirty work" for a mysterious man in a suit. The tension escalates when the suited man insists that Neil has no choice but to continue working for him. The narrative then shifts to reveal Neil's romantic involvement with Lucy, a Bridges employee played by Marinelli's real-life wife, Alissa Jung. Their conversation discloses Neil's illicit activities—smuggling brain-dead pregnant women, a task tied to the dark underbelly of the game's universe.
Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?
The concept of smuggling brain-dead pregnant women ties back to the lore established in the original Death Stranding. These women are crucial for creating Bridge Babies (BBs), seven-month fetuses used to detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent entities that can cause catastrophic Voidouts. The US Government's secret continuation of BB experiments, despite the public discontinuation following a devastating Voidout in Manhattan, forms the backdrop for Neil's smuggling operation.
Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?
The trailer concludes with a striking image of Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, evoking the iconic look of Solid Snake from Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil is not literally Solid Snake, the visual homage is deliberate. Hideo Kojima has previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting he could resemble Solid Snake if he wore a bandana, a nod that has now been realized in Death Stranding 2.
How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid
The trailer is rich with references to Metal Gear, extending beyond Neil's appearance. Neil's transformation into a Beached entity, leading a platoon of undead soldiers, echoes themes of death and the afterlife explored in Metal Gear. The trailer's narrator references the resurgence of gun culture, tying directly into Kojima's recurring themes of weapon proliferation and its impact on humanity, a staple of the Metal Gear series. Furthermore, Neil's character might represent a metaphysical version of Solid Snake, suggesting that the essence of Snake's character lingers in the Death Stranding universe.
Additional nods to Metal Gear include Heartman's fusion of the DHV Magellan with a colossal BT, creating a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5's Sahalanthropus. The cinematic quality of the trailer also parallels the epic scope seen in Metal Gear Solid 5's Red Band trailer, blending gameplay and cutscenes into a showcase of Kojima's vision for Death Stranding 2.
Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?
Following his departure from Konami, Hideo Kojima is no longer involved with the Metal Gear Solid series. Future MGS projects, like the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his creative input. However, Death Stranding 2 clearly draws inspiration from Metal Gear's themes and aesthetics, suggesting that while Kojima may not return to the franchise, its influence continues to shape his new ventures. With its expanded environments and increased focus on combat, Death Stranding 2 appears to be Kojima's latest evolution of the storytelling and gameplay mechanics that made Metal Gear Solid iconic.
