Hideo Kojima Recounts Norman Reedus's Immediate Commitment to Death Stranding
Death Stranding, a surprise hit with its unique post-apocalyptic world and Norman Reedus's captivating performance as Sam Porter Bridges, is getting a sequel. But how did Kojima Productions manage to secure Reedus for the original game? According to Kojima's recent Twitter post, it was remarkably easy.
The game's creator revealed he pitched Death Stranding to Reedus during a sushi dinner. Remarkably, Reedus agreed instantly, even before a script existed. Within a month, Reedus was in the studio for motion capture, likely contributing to the game's iconic E3 2016 trailer.
This anecdote highlights the early days of Kojima Productions, shortly after Kojima's departure from Konami. Kojima admits he had "nothing" when he made the pitch, having just established his independent studio. The connection with Reedus initially stemmed from their collaboration on the canceled Silent Hills project with Guillermo del Toro. While Silent Hills never materialized beyond the infamous P.T. demo, that connection proved pivotal in forming the partnership that brought Reedus to Death Stranding. The actor's immediate enthusiasm underscores his faith in Kojima's vision, even at such a nascent stage of development.
