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 character whose striking resemblance to Solid Snake has generated significant buzz. Director Hideo Kojima's casting process for this pivotal role, intended to succeed Mads Mikkelsen's Cliff from the first game, was particularly rigorous.
Kojima detailed the casting journey on X/Twitter, explaining that he discovered Marinelli through They Call Me Jeeg. Their connection deepened after Marinelli emailed Kojima expressing his admiration for Metal Gear and Kojima's work, following the Japanese distribution of Martin Eden. After seeing Marinelli's performance in The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer, and further discussions followed after Marinelli completed filming The Eight Mountains. Marinelli subsequently introduced his wife, Alissa Jung, to Kojima, leading to both actors joining the cast.
Kojima praised their exceptional performance capture work, completed during the pandemic, even without a finished script. The trailer showcases the impressive results, hinting at the compelling performance to come.
Neil's appearance in the trailer, culminating in him sporting a bandanna reminiscent of Solid Snake, has fueled speculation. This visual echoes Kojima's 2020 comment about Marinelli's potential to embody Snake. While Neil is unlikely to be a multiversal Snake, the visual parallels undeniably evoke Kojima's Metal Gear legacy.
The trailer’s imagery, coupled with Neil's leadership of a soldier squad reminiscent of Cliff's role in the first game, promises an intriguing character arc. Whether Neil fully lives up to the expectations set by Mads Mikkelsen remains to be seen, but the casting certainly points towards a compelling narrative.
Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Screenshots
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Death Stranding 2 Cast
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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is slated for release on June 26, 2025, exclusively on PlayStation 5.
