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, most notably the casting of Luca Marinelli as Neil—a choice that's generated significant buzz due to the character's striking resemblance to Solid Snake. Director Hideo Kojima's casting process for this pivotal role, intended to succeed Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff from the first game, proved to be a meticulous undertaking.

Kojima detailed the casting process on X/Twitter, explaining that his search for Neil began during the pandemic. He initially discovered Marinelli through They Call Me Jeeg, and their connection deepened after the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden. Marinelli proactively reached out to Kojima, expressing his admiration for the director and his work on Metal Gear.

Following Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer. After Marinelli completed filming The Eight Mountains, they spoke, and Marinelli agreed to the role. He subsequently introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was also cast. Their performance capture, completed during the pandemic's peak, impressed Kojima, who praised their on-set professionalism and the quality of the resulting digital performance, evident even in the brief trailer glimpses.

Neil's character design, revealed in the trailer's climax, has fueled the comparisons to Solid Snake. Neil's adoption of a bandanna, mirroring Snake's iconic look, and his command of soldiers, reminiscent of Cliff's leadership style in the first Death Stranding, have solidified this connection in fans' minds.

Kojima himself acknowledged the resemblance as far back as 2020, commenting on Marinelli's potential to embody Snake. While Neil is unlikely to be a Snake variant, the visual parallels are undeniable and evoke Kojima's Metal Gear legacy. The casting choice seems well-considered, and fans eagerly await Neil's role in the game.

For further insights, explore IGN's article: "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, exclusively on PlayStation 5.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots

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Death Stranding 2 Cast

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