Hideo Kojima Casts Solid Snake Lookalike for Death Stranding 2

Hideo Kojima has revealed that the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil in Death Stranding 2 was a purposeful choice to surpass Mads Mikkelsen's character from the first game. Marinelli's distinctively Solid Snake-like appearance and performance impressed Kojima, who had been considering him since 2020 after seeing his work in the film They Call Me Jeeg. The pair connected over a mutual appreciation for Kojima's work, and the actor performed motion capture during the pandemic despite the absence of a script. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively for PlayStation 5.

Neil is a pivotal character in Death Stranding 2, designed to replace Cliff from the original game. His striking resemblance to Solid Snake not only relates to Kojima's legacy but also serves to elevate the game's narrative and emotional depth.

Death Stranding 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed Death Stranding, which introduced players to a hauntingly beautiful world and innovative gameplay mechanics centered around connectivity and delivery. Kojima Productions hopes to expand on the first game's intriguing themes while introducing new characters and gameplay elements.