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

Kojima Productions unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, introducing a new face alongside familiar ones like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux. This newcomer, Luca Marinelli, plays Neil, a character whose role in the story is far more significant than initially meets the eye. He appears poised to become Kojima's new Solid Snake, at least visually.

Who is Luca Marinelli Playing in Death Stranding 2?

Marinelli, an Italian actor, portrays Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, lending both his voice and likeness to the character. Known to English-speaking audiences for his role as Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, Marinelli's Neil is first seen in the trailer during an interrogation, accused of unspecified crimes by a shadowy figure. Neil claims he's only carrying out orders, attempting to sever ties with his employer, only to be told he "has no choice." A subsequent scene reveals a romantic relationship with Lucy (played by Marinelli's wife, Alissa Jung), a Bridges employee, and hints at Neil's involvement in smuggling – specifically, brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, Brain-Dead Pregnant Women?

The original Death Stranding famously featured Sam Porter Bridges carrying a Bridge Baby (BB), a seven-month fetus from a brain-dead mother, crucial for detecting malevolent entities called Beached Things (BTs). The US government's discontinued BB experiments, intended to understand Voidouts (BT-caused catastrophic events), are seemingly continued in secret, with Neil acting as the smuggler for this illegal research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer's final shot of Neil with a bandana bears a striking resemblance to Solid Snake. While Neil isn't Solid Snake – the universes remain separate – the visual similarity is intentional. A 2020 Instagram post by Hideo Kojima revealed his admiration for Marinelli, even commenting that he'd look like Solid Snake with a bandana. The trailer's visual echo is a deliberate nod to Kojima's most famous creation.

How Death Stranding 2 Connects to Metal Gear Solid

The Metal Gear influence extends beyond Neil's appearance. The trailer showcases Neil becoming Beached, resembling Cliff Unger from the first game, leading an undead army. The narrator's mention of the resurgence of US gun culture on a "new continent" echoes Metal Gear's themes of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effect on humanity. This anti-armament stance is a recurring motif in Kojima's work. Neil's existence could be interpreted as a metaphysical "version" of Solid Snake, a soul trapped within the Death Stranding world, mirroring the potential end of the Metal Gear franchise.

Further referencing Metal Gear Solid V, Heartman appears to combine the DHV Magellan ship with a colossal BT, creating a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus. The trailer's cinematic style, mirroring the 10-minute Red Band trailer for Metal Gear Solid V, emphasizes the epic scope and cinematic presentation of both games.

Will There Be Another Kojima Metal Gear Solid Game?

The likelihood of another Kojima-directed Metal Gear Solid game is slim. His departure from Konami effectively ended his involvement with the franchise. However, Death Stranding 2 serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Metal Gear on Kojima's creative vision. With expanded environments, a greater emphasis on combat, and its thematic and visual connections to Metal Gear, Death Stranding 2 feels like a spiritual successor, even if it doesn't carry the same name.