Kojima Productions unveiled a captivating 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, introducing a fresh face alongside familiar ones like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux. This newcomer, Luca Marinelli, plays Neil, a character whose presence hints at a significant connection to Kojima's past work.
Who is Luca Marinelli Playing in Death Stranding 2?
Marinelli portrays Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, lending both his voice and likeness. While primarily known for Italian-language films, English-speaking audiences may recognize him as Nicky from Netflix's The Old Guard. The trailer shows Neil in an interrogation, seemingly attempting to sever ties with a shadowy figure who insists he continues his "dirty work"—smuggling brain-dead pregnant women. A later scene hints at a romantic relationship with Lucy (played by Marinelli's wife, Alissa Jung).
Wait, Brain-Dead Pregnant Women?
Recall the iconic image of Sam Porter Bridges from the first Death Stranding, carrying a Bridge Baby (BB)—a seven-month fetus from a brain-dead mother. These BBs, in a liminal state between life and death, communicate with the dead, helping detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent spirits causing Voidouts. Prior government experiments with BBs, resulting in a devastating Voidout in Manhattan, were officially halted. However, the trailer suggests these experiments continue secretly, with Neil acting as a smuggler for this illicit research.
Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?
The trailer's final shot of Neil, bandana-clad, evokes a striking resemblance to Solid Snake. While Neil isn't Solid Snake—the universes remain separate—the visual similarity is intentional. Kojima previously expressed admiration for Marinelli, stating in 2020 that he'd be a "spitting image of Solid Snake" with a bandana. The deliberate visual echo serves as a powerful reference.
How Death Stranding 2 Connects to Metal Gear Solid
The connection extends beyond visual homage. Neil's eventual transformation into a Beached being, leading an undead army, mirrors Cliff Unger's fate in the first game. The trailer's narration about the resurgence of US gun culture on a "new continent" echoes a central theme in the Metal Gear series: the destructive nature of weapons proliferation. This thematic parallel, combined with Neil's potential metaphysical interpretation as a "version" of Snake (a deceased soul trapped in the Death Stranding world), reinforces the link.
Further solidifying the connection, Heartman's merging of the DHV Magellan with a colossal BT creates a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid 5's Sahalanthropus. The trailer's cinematic style, mirroring the epic Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, underscores the intentional homage.
Will There Be Another Kojima Metal Gear Solid Game?
The likelihood of another Kojima-directed Metal Gear Solid game is slim, given his departure from Konami. However, Death Stranding 2, with its expanded environments, emphasis on combat, and clear thematic and visual references to Metal Gear, feels like a spiritual successor, carrying the torch of Kojima's signature style and storytelling.
