Home News Kojima Casts Solid Snake Lookalike for Death Stranding 2, Aims to Outdo Mikkelsen

Kojima Casts Solid Snake Lookalike for Death Stranding 2, Aims to Outdo Mikkelsen

Author : Nicholas Update : Mar 29,2025

The latest trailer for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has stirred excitement among fans, particularly with the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil, a character whose appearance echoes the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima took to X/Twitter to delve into the casting process, revealing that finding the right actor for Neil was crucial, as this character would fill the shoes of Cliff from the original Death Stranding. Kojima's goal was to surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's performance in the first game.

Kojima first noticed Marinelli in the Italian film They Call Me Jeeg and further engaged with him through the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden. In a heartfelt email, Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima's work, particularly the Metal Gear series, which he grew up with. This personal connection played a significant role in the casting decision.

After witnessing Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima reached out with an offer to join Death Stranding 2. The actor accepted after finishing work on The Eight Mountains and even introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy. Both underwent performance capture during the height of the pandemic, a testament to their commitment despite the lack of a completed script.

In the trailer, Neil's character stands out, especially in the closing scenes where he dons a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and commands a squad of soldiers in a manner similar to Cliff from the first game. This imagery has been a long-time vision for Kojima, who as early as 2020, mused about how Marinelli in a bandanna would resemble Solid Snake.

While Neil isn't a direct reincarnation of Solid Snake, his presence certainly evokes Kojima's storied history with the Metal Gear franchise. Fans eagerly await to see how this character will integrate into the Death Stranding universe.

For those curious about the new 'Solid Snake' and the connections to Metal Gear, IGN offers an in-depth feature exploring these themes.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.