Kojima's Death Stranding 2 Casting Aims to Eclipse Mikkelsen

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s latest trailer unveiled a wealth of new information, sparking considerable excitement, particularly surrounding the casting of Luca Marinelli as Neil. His character's striking resemblance to Solid Snake has generated significant buzz. The casting process itself proved noteworthy, as director Hideo Kojima aimed to find an actor who could surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's performance as Cliff in the first Death Stranding.

Kojima detailed the casting journey on X/Twitter, explaining that he discovered Marinelli through his role in *They Call Me Jeeg*. Their connection deepened after the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*, where Marinelli proactively contacted Kojima, expressing his admiration for the director and his work on the Metal Gear series. After seeing Marinelli in *The Old Guard*, Kojima extended an offer. Following the completion of *The Eight Mountains*, Marinelli accepted, and subsequently introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was also cast.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Kojima praised their performance capture work, conducted during the pandemic, highlighting the quality evident even in the brief trailer glimpses. He expressed gratitude for their commitment, particularly given the lack of a complete script at the time.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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Neil's portrayal, culminating in the iconic bandana moment reminiscent of Solid Snake, has been a major talking point. This imagery, noted by Kojima as early as 2020, clearly evokes his Metal Gear legacy. While Neil’s connection to Snake remains speculative, the visual parallels are undeniable. For a deeper dive, explore IGN's article on Kojima’s “Solid Snake” and the game's Metal Gear Solid connections.

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