Hideo Kojima Says He Cast His Solid Snake-alike for Death Stranding 2 To Try and Surpass Mads Mikkelsen

The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has sparked a flurry of excitement, especially with the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil, a character whose appearance and style have drawn comparisons to the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima shared insights on X/Twitter about the casting process, emphasizing the significance of Neil's role in the sequel. Kojima aimed to surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's character, Cliff, from the original *Death Stranding*, setting a high bar for Marinelli.

Kojima first noticed Marinelli in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg* and further engaged with him during the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*. A personal connection was forged when Marinelli reached out via email, expressing his admiration for Kojima's work and his background as a fan of the *Metal Gear* series. This interaction led to Marinelli's casting after Kojima saw his performance in *The Old Guard*. Following this, Marinelli introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was also cast in the game.

Despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic, Marinelli and Jung's performance capture sessions were completed successfully, earning praise from Kojima for their excellence, even without a finalized script. The trailer showcases Neil's striking resemblance to Solid Snake, particularly when he dons a bandanna and commands a squad of soldiers, echoing Cliff's role in the first game.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Kojima has long been captivated by the idea of Marinelli wearing a bandanna, a visual nod to Solid Snake, which he mentioned as early as 2020. While Neil is not a direct reincarnation of Snake, the imagery and style certainly evoke Kojima's storied history with the *Metal Gear* franchise. Fans are eager to see if Marinelli can meet the high expectations set by his predecessor, Mads Mikkelsen. For a deeper dive into this casting choice and its implications, 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.