The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has sparked excitement among fans, especially with the introduction of a new character that echoes the iconic Solid Snake from the Metal Gear series. Director Hideo Kojima shared insights into the casting process of Italian actor Luca Marinelli, who will portray Neil, a crucial character meant to fill the shoes left by Cliff from the first game. Kojima set a high bar for this role, aiming to surpass the impact of Mads Mikkelsen's performance in the original *Death Stranding*.
Kojima discovered Marinelli through his role in the acclaimed Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg*. Their connection deepened during discussions around the Japanese distribution of *Martin Eden*, where Marinelli expressed his admiration for Kojima's work, having grown up with the *Metal Gear* series. "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," Marinelli wrote in an email to Kojima.
Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots
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Impressed by Marinelli's performance in *The Old Guard*, Kojima extended an offer to him. After wrapping up *The Eight Mountains*, Marinelli accepted and even introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who was cast as Lucy. "We did their scan and pcap [performance capture] during the height of the pandemic, but their on-set performance was excellent," Kojima remarked. "You can see that in the digitized results from even the small bits of the trailer. I can only thank Luca and Alissa for agreeing to perform when we didn't even have a script yet."
Neil, played by Marinelli, has become a standout from the trailer, notably donning a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake and leading a squad of soldiers in a manner similar to Cliff. This nod to Kojima's past work with the *Metal Gear* series has fans buzzing. As early as 2020, Kojima hinted at this casting choice, saying, "I think if he donned a bandanna, he'd be a spitting image of Solid Snake!"
Death Stranding 2 Cast
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While Neil isn't a multiversal version of Solid Snake, the imagery certainly evokes Kojima's storied history with the *Metal Gear* franchise. Fans are eager to see how Marinelli will bring this character to life. For more insights, 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, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
