The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has sparked excitement and speculation among fans, particularly with the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as the character Neil. Director Hideo Kojima shared insights into the casting process on X/Twitter, revealing that finding the right actor to replace the role filled by Mads Mikkelsen's character, Cliff, in the original *Death Stranding* was crucial. Kojima set a high bar, aiming to surpass the impact of Mikkelsen's performance with Neil's role.
Kojima's journey to cast Marinelli began during the pandemic when he discovered the actor through his role in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg*. This led to a correspondence sparked by the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*, in which Marinelli starred. In an email to Kojima, Marinelli expressed his admiration, stating, "I grew up with Metal Gear. I am a big fan of yours. I am very honored that you saw the film I starred in. I wanted to tell you this directly." This connection paved the way for Marinelli's casting.
Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots
42 Images
Impressed by Marinelli's performance in *The Old Guard*, Kojima reached out with an offer. After wrapping up *The Eight Mountains*, Marinelli agreed to the role and even introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, for the role of Lucy. Despite the challenges posed by the height of the pandemic, Kojima praised their performance capture work, noting the quality visible even in the trailer snippets. "We did their scan and pcap [performance capture] during the height of the pandemic, but their on-set performance was excellent," Kojima remarked, expressing gratitude for their commitment despite the lack of a complete script at the time.
Neil's character has become a highlight of the trailer, particularly with a scene where he dons a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake from *Metal Gear Solid*. This visual nod has fueled speculation about the character's ties to Kojima's previous work. Kojima himself had previously mentioned in 2020 that Marinelli's resemblance to Solid Snake, especially with a bandanna, was striking.
Death Stranding 2 Cast
14 Images
While Neil is not likely a direct reference to Solid Snake, the imagery and Marinelli's casting certainly evoke Kojima's storied history with the *Metal Gear* series. Fans eagerly await to see how this character will fit into the narrative of *Death Stranding 2*. For a deeper dive into the casting 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.
