Hideo Kojima has revealed he cast Margaret Qualley as Mama in Death Stranding after watching her performance in a Spike Jonze-directed fragrance commercial.
On April 25, Kojima shared the viral ad on social media, writing: "I saw this and offered her the role of Mama (Lockne) in Death Stranding."
The Kenzo World fragrance advertisement features Qualley executing a striking, choreographed dance routine set to a deep bass-heavy track—reminiscent of Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice,” which famously starred Christopher Walken. In the ad, Qualley contorts, shudders, and spasms with dramatic intensity, at one point appearing to shoot lasers from her fingertips. The performance, both surreal and captivating, showcases her physical expressiveness and unique screen presence.
In Death Stranding, Qualley portrays Mama—full name Målingen—a pivotal Bridges scientist and one of the most brilliant minds in the United Cities of America. She is credited with co-inventing the Chiral Network, the revolutionary communication system that enables instant data transfer across vast distances. She shares the role with her in-game twin sister, Lockne, also portrayed by Qualley.
Fans responded enthusiastically to Kojima’s revelation, with one replying, "You are a visionary, Kojima-san," and another joking, "I do this most mornings, Kojima-san. Hire me too."
Kojima is currently developing Death Stranding 2, set for release on June 26, 2025, as well as a live-action Death Stranding film in collaboration with A24. He is also working on OD, a groundbreaking title published by Xbox, which he describes as "a game I have always wanted to make," alongside a new PlayStation-exclusive action espionage project.
