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

The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has sparked excitement among fans, particularly due to the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil, a character whose appearance and demeanor echo the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima has shared insights into the casting process, revealing his ambition to surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's character, Cliff, from the original *Death Stranding*.

In a detailed post on X/Twitter, Kojima explained how he discovered Marinelli through his role in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg*. Their connection deepened with the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*, leading to a direct correspondence. Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima's work, particularly the *Metal Gear* series, saying, "I grew up with Metal Gear. I am a big fan of yours. I am very honored that you saw the film I starred in. I wanted to tell you this directly."

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Impressed by Marinelli's performance in *The Old Guard*, Kojima reached out with an offer to join *Death Stranding 2*. After wrapping up *The Eight Mountains*, Marinelli not only accepted the role but also introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy. Despite the challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic, their performance capture sessions were successful, and Kojima praised their dedication, stating, "We did their scan and pcap [performance capture] during the height of the pandemic, but their on-set performance was excellent. You can see that in the digitized results from even the small bits of the trailer. I can only thank Luca and Alissa for agreeing to perform when we didn't even have a script yet."

Neil's character, showcased prominently in the trailer, concludes with a striking scene where he dons a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and commands a squad of soldiers, echoing Cliff's role in the first game. This has not only excited fans but also highlighted Kojima's continued connection to his *Metal Gear* legacy. As early as 2020, Kojima mentioned Marinelli's potential to resemble Solid Snake with a bandanna, saying, "I think if he donned a bandanna, he'd be a spitting image of Solid Snake!"

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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While Neil isn't a multiversal version of Solid Snake, the visual cues and character dynamics certainly evoke Kojima's storied history with the *Metal Gear* franchise. Fans are eager to see if Marinelli can live up to the high expectations set by this casting choice. For more insights, check out IGN's feature, "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, and will be available exclusively on PlayStation 5.