The latest trailer for *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* has delivered a wave of new details, sparking excitement and speculation among fans. One standout moment comes from the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil—a role that carries significant weight following Kojima’s vision for the sequel. The character’s aesthetic and demeanor have drawn immediate comparisons to Solid Snake from the *Metal Gear* series, fueling conversations across fan communities.
As revealed through a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), Hideo Kojima approached the casting process with high expectations. He was in search of an actor who could not only fill the void left by Cliff from the first game—played by Mads Mikkelsen—but potentially surpass it. During the height of the pandemic, Kojima began scouting talent and found himself captivated by Marinelli’s performance in the Italian film *They Call Me Jeeg*. This led to further correspondence between the two, particularly around the Japanese release of *Martin Eden*.
Marinelli, a lifelong fan of Kojima’s work, reached out personally with a message that resonated deeply: “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.” That connection paved the way for collaboration. After seeing Marinelli in *The Old Guard*, Kojima extended an offer, eventually meeting with him after Marinelli completed filming on *The Eight Mountains*.
Once onboard, Marinelli introduced Kojima to his wife, Alissa Jung, who also joined the project. Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, both actors underwent performance capture sessions with impressive results. “You can see that in the digitized results from even the small bits of the trailer,” Kojima noted. “I can only thank Luca and Alissa for agreeing to perform when we didn’t even have a script yet.”
Neil’s Visual Homage to Solid Snake
Among the most talked-about moments from the trailer is the visual homage paid by Neil at its conclusion. As he wraps a bandanna around his face in a manner unmistakably reminiscent of Solid Snake, fans were quick to draw parallels to Kojima’s legendary franchise. This stylistic choice isn't just surface-level—it echoes the tone and leadership demonstrated by Cliff in the original *Death Stranding*, now passed on to Neil.
Interestingly, Kojima had already envisioned this look years earlier. Back in 2020, he mused aloud about Marinelli’s potential resemblance to Snake: “I think if he donned a bandanna, he’d be a spitting image of Solid Snake!” While Neil isn’t expected to cross over into the *Metal Gear* universe, the imagery serves as a subtle nod to Kojima’s creative legacy.
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Death Stranding 2: Full Cast & Character Appearances
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A Long-Awaited Sequel with High Expectations
Kojima’s attention to casting and visual storytelling has always been meticulous, and *Death Stranding 2: On the Beach* appears to be no exception. With the June 26, 2025 release date confirmed and exclusive availability on PlayStation 5, anticipation continues to build. Fans are eager to explore how Neil’s journey unfolds and whether Kojima has once again redefined gaming narrative design.
