If you're a fan of Death Stranding 2, the recent beach-themed trailer has definitely piqued your interest. Among the new details revealed, the casting of Italian actor Luca Marinelli as Neil has sparked significant buzz. His portrayal carries distinct echoes of Solid Snake, a nod to Hideo Kojima's iconic past with the Metal Gear series. To ensure the sequel lived up to expectations, Kojima aimed to cast an actor who could outshine Mads Mikkelsen’s performance in the first Death Stranding.

In a detailed post on X/Twitter, Kojima explained the journey of bringing Marinelli into the fold. During the pandemic, Kojima began searching for the perfect actor to play Neil, a pivotal role that would replace Cliff from the original. The director shared, "The fans would not be satisfied unless the casting surpassed Mads."

It was through Marinelli’s performance in They Call Me Jeeg that Kojima first took notice. A correspondence developed around the Japanese release of Martin Eden. Marinelli reached out via email, expressing admiration for Kojima’s work and excitement over the director’s recognition of his film.

Death Stranding 2 - Release Date Trailer Highlights

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Following The Old Guard, Kojima extended an offer to Marinelli, who later introduced the director to his wife, Alissa Jung, after learning about Lucy’s role. Kojima noted, "We did their scan and pcap [performance capture] during the pandemic, but their on-set performance was exceptional. You can see the results in the trailer."

Neil, played by Marinelli, is one of the most striking reveals from the trailer. At its end, Neil ties a bandanna in a manner reminiscent of Solid Snake, while leading soldiers similarly to Cliff from the first game.

Death Stranding 2 Cast

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This casting decision wasn’t made overnight. Kojima mentioned back in 2020 how Marinelli reminded him of Solid Snake with the right bandanna. While Neil’s connection to Snake remains unclear, the imagery undeniably pays homage to Kojima’s legendary career.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is scheduled to release exclusively on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025. For deeper insights, check out IGN’s feature, "Who Is Kojima’s New ‘Solid Snake’ and Why Death Stranding 2 Looks Like the Closest We’ll Ever Get to Another Metal Gear Solid?"