Margaret Qualley Joins Death Stranding Cast After Bizarre Perfume Ad Dance

Hideo Kojima, the renowned game director, recently shared that he cast Margaret Qualley as Mama in the critically acclaimed game Death Stranding after being captivated by her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed fragrance advertisement for Kenzo. On April 25, Kojima tweeted a link to the viral commercial, explaining his casting decision: "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding."

The advertisement features Qualley in a unique and energetic dance sequence, reminiscent of the iconic Fat Boy Slim video "Weapon of Choice," which showcased Christopher Walken's memorable dance moves. In the Kenzo ad, Qualley's performance includes shaking, grimacing, and even firing lasers from her fingers, all set to a pulsating bass track. Her dance also involves moments where she appears to struggle with controlling her movements, adding to the ad's quirky and captivating nature.

In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama, also known as Målingen, a brilliant scientist within the United Cities of America. Alongside her twin sister Lockne, whom she also plays, Mama is instrumental in developing the Chiral Network, a crucial communication system for the game's protagonist, Sam Porter Bridges.

Kojima's tweet about the casting decision sparked a range of reactions from fans. One fan praised Kojima's vision, stating, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," while another humorously suggested, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."

Currently, Kojima is not resting on his laurels. He is actively involved in multiple high-profile projects, including Death Stranding 2, set to release on June 26, 2025, a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24, and OD, an Xbox-published game described by Kojima as "a game I have always wanted to make." Additionally, he is working on a new PlayStation exclusive action espionage project, keeping his fans eagerly anticipating his next creative endeavors.