Kojima Unveils New 'Solid Snake': Death Stranding 2 Nears Metal Gear Solid Experience

Kojima Productions unveiled an exciting 10-minute trailer for Death Stranding 2 at SXSW, and it's packed with intriguing new details. The trailer features familiar faces like Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, reprising their roles from the original game. However, it opens with a striking new character, played by the Italian actor Luca Marinelli. Marinelli not only brings a fresh face to the Death Stranding universe but also embodies a character that seems destined to be Kojima's new take on the iconic Solid Snake.

Who is Luca Marinelli Playing in Death Stranding 2?

Luca Marinelli lends his voice and likeness to the character Neil in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Although Marinelli is primarily known for his work in Italian films, English-speaking audiences may recognize him from his role as the immortal mercenary Nicky in Netflix's The Old Guard.

In the trailer, we first see Neil in an interrogation room, facing accusations from a man in a suit. Neil claims he was merely doing the "dirty work" for this man and attempts to terminate their working relationship. The man in the suit insists that Neil "has no choice" but to continue working for him. The scene then shifts to Neil conversing with a Bridges employee named Lucy, played by Marinelli's real-life wife, Alissa Jung. Their dialogue suggests a romantic relationship and reveals that Neil's job involves smuggling cargo—specifically, brain-dead pregnant women.

Wait, Brain-Dead Pregnant Women?

For those familiar with the original Death Stranding, the image of Norman Reedus' Sam Porter Bridges carrying a glowing orange flask with a baby inside is iconic. These infants, known as Bridge Babies (BBs), are seven-month fetuses extracted via c-section from brain-dead mothers. This unique state between life and death enables BBs to communicate with the world of the dead, helping their carriers detect Beached Things (BTs), malevolent souls trapped in the living world that can cause devastating Voidouts.

Before the events of the first game, the U.S. Government conducted experiments with BBs to understand Voidouts—catastrophic events similar to nuclear explosions that can destroy entire cities. These experiments were officially discontinued after a BB experiment caused a Voidout in Manhattan, killing the U.S. President. However, the research continued secretly, which is why Neil is smuggling brain-dead pregnant women. It's likely that he's doing this for the U.S. government to support their clandestine research.

Is Solid Snake in Death Stranding 2?

The trailer concludes with Neil tying a bandana around his forehead, a look that unmistakably echoes Solid Snake, the beloved protagonist of Kojima's Metal Gear Solid series. This visual similarity is no coincidence. In 2020, Hideo Kojima expressed his admiration for Luca Marinelli after watching The Old Guard and Martin Eden, stating that Marinelli would look like Solid Snake if he wore a bandana.

While Neil is not Solid Snake, the universes of Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding are distinct, Kojima is clearly referencing his iconic creation. The homage is intentional, and it serves as a nod to fans of his previous work.

How Death Stranding 2 Connects to Metal Gear Solid

The trailer goes beyond mere visual references, evoking themes from the Metal Gear series throughout. Neil becomes Beached, similar to Cliff Unger from the first game, and leads a platoon of undead warriors. A narrator discusses the resurgence of gun culture on a "new continent," echoing Kojima's long-standing critique of weapon proliferation and its destabilizing effects on humanity.

The trailer also features Heartman combining the ship DHV Magellan with a colossal BT to create a bio-robotic giant reminiscent of Sahalanthropus from Metal Gear Solid 5. This connection underscores the thematic links between the games, as both the Magellan and the BT can cause Voidouts, akin to nuclear weapons.

The cinematic quality of the Death Stranding 2 trailer also harks back to the epic scope of the Metal Gear Solid 5 Red Band trailer, presenting characters as if they were movie stars and blending gameplay with cutscenes.

Will There Be Another Kojima Metal Gear Solid Game?

It's unlikely that Hideo Kojima will return to the Metal Gear Solid series, as he left the franchise after parting ways with Konami. Future MGS games, including the upcoming remake of Metal Gear Solid 3, will proceed without his involvement. However, the imagery and themes of Metal Gear Solid continue to influence Kojima's work, as seen in Death Stranding 2.

With its diverse environments, increased focus on combat, and thematic connections to Metal Gear Solid, Death Stranding 2 feels like a spiritual successor to Kojima's earlier work, even if it doesn't share the same name. The trailer promises an ambitious expansion of the Death Stranding universe, blending new gameplay elements with familiar themes that resonate deeply with fans of Kojima's oeuvre.