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, generating significant buzz, particularly surrounding the casting of Luca Marinelli as Neil—a character whose striking resemblance to Solid Snake has captivated fans. The selection process, as detailed by director Hideo Kojima on X/Twitter, reveals a meticulous search for an actor capable of surpassing the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff from the first Death Stranding.

Kojima's journey to cast Marinelli began with They Call Me Jeeg, leading to further communication spurred by the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden. Marinelli proactively reached out, expressing his admiration for Kojima and Metal Gear. Following Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer, finalizing the casting after Marinelli completed filming The Eight Mountains. The collaboration extended further; Marinelli introduced his wife, Alissa Jung, to Kojima, leading to both actors participating in performance capture during the pandemic. Kojima praised their exceptional on-set work, evident even in the brief glimpses shown in the trailer.

Neil's introduction in the trailer is a highlight, culminating in him donning a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake's iconic look, and commanding soldiers in a manner echoing Cliff's presence in the first game. This visual parallel, noted by Kojima as early as 2020, underscores the deliberate casting choice, although Neil's connection to Snake remains speculative.

The casting of Marinelli, and the deliberate visual cues, undeniably evoke Kojima's Metal Gear legacy. Whether or not Neil is a multiversal Snake remains to be seen, but the choice certainly piques interest. For a deeper dive, explore 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.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Death Stranding 2 Cast

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