Kojima Productions unveiled an exciting 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW over the recent weekend, showcasing both familiar and new faces. While fans were thrilled to see Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux reprise their roles, the spotlight was stolen by newcomer Luca Marinelli. Marinelli, an acclaimed Italian actor known for his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard, steps into the Death Stranding universe as Neil, a character who seems poised to become Hideo Kojima’s new Solid Snake.
Who is Luca Marinelli playing in Death Stranding 2? ---------------------------------------------------In Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Luca Marinelli lends his voice and likeness to the character Neil. The trailer introduces Neil in an intense interrogation scene, where he's accused of unspecified crimes by a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this individual, hinting at a desire to end their working relationship. However, the man in the suit insists that Neil has "no choice" but to continue.
The trailer then shifts to Neil conversing with Lucy, a Bridges employee played by Marinelli's real-life wife, actress Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic connection and reveals Neil's job: smuggling cargo that includes brain-dead pregnant women.
Wait, brain-dead pregnant women?
One of the most memorable elements from the original Death Stranding is the image of Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, carrying a glowing orange flask containing a Bridge Baby (BB). These BBs, seven-month fetuses extracted from brain-dead mothers, exist in a state between life and death, enabling communication with the world of the dead and the detection of Beached Things (BTs), malevolent souls causing Voidouts—catastrophic events akin to nuclear explosions.
Before the events of the first game, the US Government conducted experiments on BBs to understand Voidouts. Although these experiments were officially discontinued after a disastrous incident in Manhattan, they continued secretly. Neil's smuggling operation is presumably in support of these covert government activities.
Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?
The trailer concludes with a striking scene where Neil ties a bandana around his forehead, visually echoing the iconic look of Solid Snake from Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series. While Neil is not Solid Snake, the resemblance is unmistakably intentional. Hideo Kojima has previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, suggesting in a 2020 Instagram post that Marinelli could be the spitting image of Solid Snake if he wore a bandana.
How Death Stranding 2 connects to Metal Gear Solid
The trailer for Death Stranding 2 not only pays homage to Metal Gear Solid through Neil's appearance but also incorporates thematic elements from Kojima's earlier work. Neil becomes a Beached Thing, a soul trapped in the living world, reminiscent of Cliff Unger from the first game. Accompanied by a platoon of undead warriors, Neil embodies the re-emergence of the United States' gun culture on a "new continent," echoing Kojima’s recurring theme of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effects on humanity.
Additionally, the trailer features Heartman combining the ship, DHV Magellan, with a colossal BT to form a humanoid bio-robotic giant, reminiscent of the Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This fusion represents a nod to the nuclear themes prevalent in the Metal Gear series, as BTs can cause Voidouts, akin to nuclear explosions.
The cinematic quality of the new Death Stranding 2 trailer is comparable to the 10-minute Red Band trailer for Metal Gear Solid 5, showcasing Kojima's signature style of blending gameplay and cutscenes into an epic narrative.
Will there be another Kojima Metal Gear Solid game?
It's highly unlikely that Hideo Kojima will helm another Metal Gear Solid game, as his departure from Konami marked the end of his direct involvement with the franchise. Future MGS projects, like the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his creative input. However, Kojima's latest work on Death Stranding 2 clearly draws inspiration from his Metal Gear legacy, blending familiar themes with new storytelling ambitions. The sequel promises even more diverse environments and an increased focus on combat, pushing the boundaries of what fans can expect from the Death Stranding universe.
